Golf ball compositions

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionally one or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer, and where one or more of the outer cover or intermediate layers includes a high acid carboxylated elastomer composition, which has an elastomer backbone and one or more carboxy and which is the reaction product of a carboxylated elastomer and an amine containing compound.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/799,493, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports equipment in general and moreparticularly to golf balls comprising a particular composition suitablefor use in golf ball manufacture. In one embodiment, the presentinvention is used in the manufacture of a golf ball comprising a core, acover layer and, optionally, one or more inner cover layers. In onepreferred embodiment, a golf ball is disclosed in which at least oneintermediate layer comprises a high acid carboxylated elastomercomposition. In another preferred embodiment, a golf ball is disclosedin which the outer cover layer comprises a high acid carboxylatedelastomer composition. In another preferred embodiment, a golf ball isdisclosed in which the core comprises a high acid carboxylated elastomercomposition. The present invention also discloses a method forincreasing the acid content of a carboxylated elastomer.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The application of synthetic polymer chemistry to the field of sportsequipment has revolutionized the performance of athletes in many sports.One sport in which this is particularly true is golf, especially asrelates to advances in golf ball performance and ease of manufacture.For instance, the earliest golf balls consisted of a leather coverfilled with wet feathers. These “feathery” golf balls were subsequentlyreplaced with a single piece golf ball made from “gutta percha,” anaturally occurring rubber-like material. In the early 1900's, the woundrubber ball was introduced, consisting of a solid rubber core aroundwhich rubber thread was tightly wound with a gutta percha cover.

More modern golf balls can be classified as one-piece, two-piece,three-piece or multi-layered golf balls. One-piece balls are molded froma homogeneous mass of material with a dimple pattern molded thereon.One-piece balls are inexpensive and very durable, but typically do notprovide great distance because of relatively high spin and low velocity.Two-piece balls are made by molding a cover around a solid rubber core.These are the most popular types of balls in use today. In attempts tofurther modify the ball performance, especially in terms of the distancesuch balls travel, and the spin and the feel transmitted to the golferthrough the club on striking the ball, the basic two piece ballconstruction has been further modified by the introduction of additionallayers between the core and outer cover layer. If one additional layeris introduced between the core and outer cover layer a so called“three-piece ball” results, if two additional layers are introducedbetween the core and outer cover layer, a so called “four-piece ball”results, and so on.

Golf ball covers were previously made from balata rubber which wasfavored by some players because the softness of the cover allowed themto achieve spin rates sufficient to allow more precise control of balldirection and distance, particularly on shorter approach shots. Howeverbalata-covered balls, although exhibiting high spin and soft feel, wereoften deficient in terms of the durability of the cover which had apropensity to shear and also the velocity of the ball when it leaves theclub face (which in turn affects the distance the ball travels).

The distance a golf ball travels is directly related to the coefficientof restitution (“C.O.R.”) of the ball. The coefficient of restitution ofa one-piece golf ball is in part a function of the ball's composition.In a two-piece or a multi-layered golf ball, the coefficient ofrestitution is a function of the properties of the core, the cover andany additional layer. While there are no United States Golf Association(“USGA”) limitations on the coefficient of restitution values of a golfball, the USGA requires that the golf ball cannot exceed an initialvelocity of 255 feet/second. As a result, golf ball manufacturersgenerally seek to maximize the coefficient of restitution of a ballwithout violating the velocity limitation.

Accordingly, a variety of golf ball constructions have been developed inan attempt to provide spin rates and a feel approaching those of balatacovered balls, while also providing a golf ball with a higher durabilityand overall distance. This has resulted in the emergence of balls, whichhave a solid rubber core, a cover, and one or more so calledintermediate layers, as well as the application of new materials to eachof these components.

A material which has been often utilized in more modern golf ballsincludes the various ionomer resins developed in the mid-1960's, by E.I.DuPont de Nemours and Co., and sold under the trademark SURLYN®. Theseionomer resins have, to a large extent, replaced balata as a golf ballcover stock material. Preparation of such ionomers is well known, forexample see U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,272. Generally speaking, commercialionomers consist of a polymer of a mono-olefin, e.g., an alkene, with anunsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid having 3 to 12 carbon atoms. Anadditional monomer in the form of a mono- or dicarboxylic acid ester mayalso be incorporated in the formulation as a so-called “softeningcomonomer.” The acid groups in the polymer are then neutralized tovarying degrees by addition of a neutralizing agent in the form of abasic metal salt.

More recent developments in the field have attempted to utilize thevarious types of ionomers, both singly and in blend compositions tooptimize the often conflicting golf ball performance requirements ofhigh C.O.R. and ball velocity, and cover durability, with the need for aball to spin and have a so-called soft feel on shorter iron shots.However, the incorporation of more acid in the ionomer and/or increasingits degree of neutralization results in a material with increasedpolarity, and hence one which is often less compatible with otherpotential blend materials. Also increasing the acid content of theionomer while increasing C.O.R. may render the ball too hard and brittlecausing a loss of shot feel, control (i.e., the ability to spin theball) and may render the cover too brittle and prone to prematurefailure. Finally, the incorporation of more acid in the ionomer and/orincreasing its degree of neutralization typically results in an increasein melt viscosity which in turn greatly decreases the processability ofthese resins. Attempts to mediate these effects by adding softerterpolymeric ionomers to high acid ionomer compositions to adjust thehardness and improve the shot “feel” often result in concomitant loss ofC.O.R. and hence distance.

In view of the above, it is apparent that new materials for golf ballcover and intermediate layers are needed that allow the optimization ofgolf ball strength performance properties while maintainingprocessability and hardness. We have now surprisingly found that highacid carboxylated elastomer compositions and their blends, whenincorporated into golf ball compositions used to make both golf ballcore, cover and/or intermediate layers can deliver improvements in bothgolf ball performance and strength properties while maintainingprocessability and hardness.

SUMMARY

This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionallyone or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer, and where oneor more of the outer cover or intermediate layers includes a high acidcarboxylated elastomer composition, which has an elastomer backbone andone or more carboxy and which is the reaction product of a carboxylatedelastomer and an amine containing compound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a three-piece golf ball 1 comprising a solid centeror core 2, an intermediate layer 3, and an outer cover layer 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates a four-piece golf ball 1 comprising a core 2, and anouter cover layer 5. an inner intermediate layer 3, and an outerintermediate layer 4.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate only three- and four-piece golf ballconstructions, golf balls of the present invention may comprise from 1to at least 5 intermediate layer(s), preferably from 1 to 3 intermediatelayer(s), more preferably from 1 to 2 intermediate layer(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable is from 1 to 90, preferablyfrom 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that valuessuch as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expresslyenumerated in this specification. For values, which have less than oneunit difference, one unit is considered to be 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, or0.0001 as appropriate. Thus all possible combinations of numericalvalues between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated hereinare said to be expressly stated in this application.

The term “bimodal polymer” refers to a polymer comprising two mainfractions and more specifically to the form of the polymers molecularweight distribution curve, i.e., the appearance of the graph of thepolymer weight fraction as function of its molecular weight. When themolecular weight distribution curves from these fractions aresuperimposed into the molecular weight distribution curve for the totalresulting polymer product, that curve will show two maxima or at leastbe distinctly broadened in comparison with the curves for the individualfractions. Such a polymer HACE product is called bimodal. It is to benoted here that also the chemical compositions of the two fractions maybe different.

As used herein, the term “block copolymer” is intended to mean a polymercomprising two or more homopolymer subunits linked by covalent bonds.The union of the homopolymer subunits may require an intermediatenon-repeating subunit, known as a junction block. Block copolymers withtwo or three distinct blocks are called diblock copolymers and triblockcopolymers, respectively.

The term “core” is intended to mean the elastic center of a golf ball.The core may be a unitary core having a center it may have one or more“core layers” of elastic material, which are usually made of rubberymaterial such as diene rubbers.

The term “cover layer” is intended to mean the outermost layer of thegolf ball; this is the layer that is directly in contact with paintand/or ink on the surface of the golf ball. If the cover consists of twoor more layers, only the outermost layer is designated the cover layer,and the remaining layers (excluding the outermost layer) are commonlydesignated intermediate layers as herein defined. The term “outer coverlayer” as used herein is used interchangeably with the term “coverlayer.”

The term “fiber” as used herein is a general term for which thedefinition given in Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2, “EngineeringPlastics”, published by A.S.M. International, Metals Park, Ohio, USA, isrelied upon to refer to filamentary materials with a finite length thatis at least 100 times its diameter, which is typically 0.10 to 0.13 mm(0.004 to 0.005 in.). Fibers can be continuous or specific short lengths(discontinuous), normally no less than 3.2 mm (⅛ in.). Although fibersaccording to this definition are preferred, fiber segments, i.e., partsof fibers having lengths less than the aforementioned are alsoconsidered to be encompassed by the invention. Thus, the terms “fibers”and “fiber segments” are used herein. In the claims appearing at the endof this disclosure in particular, the expression “fibers or fibersegments” and “fiber elements” are used to encompass both fibers andfiber segments.

The term “hydrocarbyl” is intended to mean any aliphatic,cycloaliphatic, aromatic, aryl substituted aliphatic, aryl substitutedcycloaliphatic, aliphatic substituted aromatic, or cycloaliphaticsubstituted aromatic groups. The aliphatic or cycloaliphatic groups arepreferably saturated. Likewise, the term “hydrocarbyloxy” means ahydrocarbyl group having an oxygen linkage between it and the carbonatom to which it is attached.

The term “carboxy group” is intended to mean any group containing acarbon atom that is linked by a double bond to one oxygen atom and byone single bond to another carbon atom and by another single bond to anoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or another carboxy carbon. One suitablecarboxy group contained in the carboxylated elastomers used in thepresent invention may be represented by the general formula —COOR,wherein R may be a hydrogen, a metal (for example, an alkali metal, analkaline earth metal, or a transition metal), an ammonium or aquaternary ammonium group, an acyl group (for example acetyl (CH₃C(O))group), an alkyl group (such as an ester), an acid anhydride group, andcombinations thereof. Examples of suitable carboxy groups include, butare not limited to, carboxylic acid, carboxy esters, carboxy acidanhydrides, and monovalent, divalent and trivalent metal salts ofcarboxy acids, derivatives thereof and any and combinations thereof.

The term “intermediate layer” may be used interchangeably herein withthe terms “mantle layer” or “inner cover layer” and is intended to meanany layer(s) in a golf ball disposed between the core and the outercover layer. Should a ball have more than one intermediate layer, thesemay be distinguished as “inner intermediate layer” or “inner mantlelayer” which terms may be used interchangeably to refer to theintermediate layer nearest the core and furthest from the outer cover,as opposed to the “outer intermediate layer” or “outer mantle layer”which terms may also used interchangeably to refer to the intermediatelayer furthest from the core and closest to the outer cover, and ifthere are three intermediate layers, these may be distinguished as“inner intermediate layer” or “inner mantle layer” which terms are usedinterchangeably to refer to the intermediate or mantle layer nearest thecore and furthest from the outer cover, as opposed to the “outerintermediate layer” or “outer mantle layer” which terms are also usedinterchangeably to refer to the intermediate layer further from the coreand closer to the outer cover, and as opposed to the “intermediateintermediate layer” or “intermediate mantle layer” which terms are alsoused interchangeably to refer to the intermediate layer between theinner intermediate layer and the outer intermediate layer.

The term “(meth)acrylic acid copolymers” is intended to mean copolymersof methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid.

The term “(meth)acrylate” is intended to mean an ester of methacrylicacid and/or acrylic acid.

The term “partially neutralized” is intended to mean an ionomer with adegree of neutralization of less than 100 percent. The term “highlyneutralized” is intended to mean an ionomer with a degree ofneutralization of greater than 50 percent. The term “fully neutralized”is intended to mean an ionomer with a degree of neutralization of 100percent.

The term “prepolymer” as used herein is intended to mean any polymericmaterial that can be further processed to form a final polymer materialof a manufactured golf ball, such as, by way of example and notlimitation, a polymerized or partially polymerized material that canundergo additional processing, such as crosslinking.

The term “sports equipment” refers to any item of sports equipment suchas sports clothing, boots, sneakers, clogs, sandals, slip on sandals andshoes, golf shoes, tennis shoes, running shoes, athletic shoes, hikingshoes, skis, ski masks, ski boots, cycling shoes, soccer boots, golfclubs, golf bags, and the like.

The term “thermoplastic” as used herein is intended to mean a materialthat is capable of softening or melting when heated and of hardeningagain when cooled. Thermoplastic polymer chains often are notcross-linked or are lightly crosslinked using a chain extender, but theterm “thermoplastic” as used herein may refer to materials thatinitially act as thermoplastics, such as during an initial extrusionprocess or injection molding process, but which also may be crosslinked,such as during a compression molding step to form a final structure.

The term “thermoset” as used herein is intended to mean a material thatcrosslinks or cures via interaction with as crosslinking or curingagent. Crosslinking may be induced by energy, such as heat (generallyabove 200° C.), through a chemical reaction (by reaction with a curingagent), or by irradiation. The resulting composition remains rigid whenset, and does not soften with heating. Thermosets have this propertybecause the long-chain polymer molecules cross-link with each other togive a rigid structure. A thermoset material cannot be melted andre-molded after it is cured. Thus thermosets do not lend themselves torecycling unlike thermoplastics, which can be melted and re-molded.

The term “thermoplastic polyurethane” as used herein is intended to meana material prepared by reaction of a prepared by reaction of adiisocyanate with a polyol, and optionally addition of a chain extender.

The term “thermoplastic polyurea” as used herein is intended to mean amaterial prepared by reaction of a prepared by reaction of adiisocyanate with a polyamine, with optionally addition of a chainextender.

The term “thermoset polyurethane” as used herein is intended to mean amaterial prepared by reaction of a diisocyanate with a polyol (or aprepolymer of the two), and a curing agent.

The term “thermoset polyurea” as used herein is intended to mean amaterial prepared by reaction of a diisocyanate with a polyamine (or aprepolymer of the two) and a curing agent.

The term “unimodal polymer” refers to a polymer comprising one mainfraction and more specifically to the form of the polymers molecularweight distribution curve, i.e., the molecular weight distribution curvefor the total polymer HACE product shows only a single maximum.

The term “urethane prepolymer” as used herein is intended to mean thereaction HACE product of diisocyanate and a polyol.

The term “urea prepolymer” as used herein is intended to mean thereaction product of a diisocyanate and a polyamine.

The term “zwitterion” as used herein is intended to mean a form of thecompound having both an amine group and carboxylic acid group, whereboth are charged and where the net charge on the compound is neutral.

The present invention can be used in forming golf balls of any desiredsize. “The Rules of Golf” by the USGA dictate that the size of acompetition golf ball must be at least 1.680 inches in diameter;however, golf balls of any size can be used for leisure golf play. Thepreferred diameter of the golf balls is from about 1.680 inches to about1.800 inches. The more preferred diameter is from about 1.680 inches toabout 1.760 inches. A diameter of from about 1.680 inches to about 1.740inches is most preferred; however diameters anywhere in the range offrom 1.70 to about 2.0 inches can be used. Oversize golf balls withdiameters above about 1.760 inches to as big as 2.75 inches are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

The term carboxylated elastomer (CE) composition as used herein isintended to mean the family of polymers which are long chain elastomericrubbers containing pendant carboxyl groups at random various pointsalong the chain as may be graphically illustrated below:

The carboxylated elastomer comprises an elastomer backbone and carboxypendant groups, wherein R may be a hydrogen, a metal (for example, analkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a transition metal), anammonium or a quaternary ammonium group, an acyl group (for exampleacetyl (CH₃C(O)) group), an alkyl group (such as an ester), an acidanhydride group, and combinations thereof; and R₁ may be a hydrogen, analkyl, or an aryl group. Although the pendant carboxy groups aredepicted as being in interior positions along the elastomer backbone,the carboxylated elastomer may also include terminal carboxy groupsoccurring at one or more chain ends.

One method of introducing the carboxy groups is by copolymerization of asuitable olefin monomer with a monomer comprising a carboxy group. Thefirst preparation of a carboxylic elastomer was recorded in 1933 andinvolved the copolymerization of butadiene and acrylic acid. Examples ofsuitable olefin monomers, include, but are not limited to, styrene,vinyltoluene, alpha-methylestyrene, butadiene, isoprene, hexadiene,dichlorovinylidene, vinylchloride, ethylene, propylene, butylene, andisobutylene. Examples of suitable monomers comprising a carboxy groupinclude, but are not limited to, acrylic acid, alkyacrylate, alkylalkacrylates, maleic anhydride, maleimide, acrylamide and2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid.

A preferred class of carboxylated elastomers for use in this inventionare the carboxylated nitrile rubbers which may be any of those known inthe art. These are copolymers of butadiene, acrylonitrile and one ormore α,μ-unsaturated carboxylic acids and which have nitrile rubber asthe elastomer backbone. A diagram of the backbone is shown below.

The carboxylic acids which are pendant to the above backbone may containone or more carboxylic groups. Because of cost and availability, it ispreferred that the carboxylic acids be selected from acrylic,methacrylic, fumaric, maleic and itaconic acids. The copolymers may beprepared by the well known emulsion free radical process. Theacrylonitrile content of the copolymer may be from about 20 to about 40percent by weight of the copolymer. The total content of carboxylic acidin the copolymer may be from about 0.5 to about 10 percent by weight ofthe copolymer. Butadiene forms the balance to 100 percent by weight ofthe copolymer. The viscosity of the copolymer is generally within theMooney range (ML 1+4 at 100° C.) of from about 40 to about 80. U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,271,052 and 4,525,517 disclose carboxylated nitrile rubbers foruse in this invention and such disclosures are incorporated herein byreference. There are a number of carboxylated elastomers that arecommercially available from Noveon under the tradename HYCAR includingHYCAR CTBN 1300X8 and CTBN 1300X8F which are a carboxyl terminatedbutadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers. HYCAR VTBNX 1300X33 which is amethacrylate terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer and HYCAR ATBN1300X16 is an amine terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile.

Another method for introducing the carboxy groups into the particularelastomer backbone is by grafting carboxy groups onto an elastomerbackbone. The elastomers may include styrene butadiene random and blockcopolymers, hydrogenated styrene butadiene random and block copolymers,acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) copolymers,ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) copolymers, styrene-acryliccopolymers, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) polymers,methylmethacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS) rubbers, andstyrene-acrynitrile rubbers. Carboxy groups may be grafted onto ahydrophobic particulate elastomer to form a suitable graft particulateelastomer using a variety of suitable carboxylating materials,including, but not limited to, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, anddiesters and monoesters of maleic acid, maleimide, fumaric acid and itsderivatives, acrylic acid, alkylacrylate, alkylalkacrylates, acrylamide,2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid and its salts.

Examples of suitable graft particulate elastomers include, but are notlimited to, maleated polybutadienes, maleated styrene butadiene rubbers(“SBR”), maleated acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene (“ABS”) rubbers,maleated nitrile-butadiene rubbers (“NBR”), maleated hydrogenatedacrylonitrile butadiene rubbers (“HNBR”), methylmethacrylate butadienestyrene (“MBS”) rubbers, carboxylated ethylene-propylene-diene monomerrubbers, carboxylated styrene-acrynitrile rubbers (“SAN”), carboxylatedethylene propylene diene rubbers (“EPDM”), acrylic grafted siliconerubbers, and combinations thereof. An example of a suitable hydrogenatedacrylonitrile butadiene rubber (“HNBR”) that is grafted withcarboxylating materials is available from Lanxess Corporation,Leverkusen, Germany, under the trade name THERBAN® XT. An example of asuitable nitrile-butadiene rubbers (“NBR”) that is grafted withcarboxylating materials is available from Zeon Chemicals, L.P.,Louisville, Ky., under the trade name NIPOL® NBR 1072 CGX. Examples ofsuitable butadiene based rubbers that are grafted with carboxylatingmaterials are available from Mitsubishi Rayon Company Ltd., Tokyo,Japan, under the trade names METABLENS® C and E. An example of anacrylic rubber that is grafted with carboxylating materials is availablefrom Mitsubishi Rayon Company Limited, Tokyo, Japan, under the tradename METABLEN® W. An example of a suitable silicone based elastomer thatis grafted with carboxylating materials is available from MitsubishiRayon America Inc., New York, N.Y., under the trade name METABLEN® S. Anexample of a suitable styrene butadiene particulate elastomer graftedwith maleic acid available as an experimental CE product (EliokemXPR-100) from Eliokem Corporation.

Most preferred are the grafted polyisoprene compounds including KuraryLIR403 which is a polyisoprene-graft-maleic anhydride having thefollowing chemical structure:

Also included is Kurary LIR410 which is a polyisoprene-graft-maleicanhydride monoester of maleic anhydride having the following chemicalstructure:

where n is approximately 10, and the material has a weight averagemolecular weight of about 25,000, and a glass transition temperature of−59° C.

The carboxylated elastomers as described hereto have pendant and/orterminal carboxylic acid group functionality on the polymer chain whichprovides a reactive site for subsequent functionalization with reagentscontaining additional acid groups thus increasing the acid content ofthe carboxylated elastomer (“CE”) starting material to yield as thereaction product, a so-called High Acid Carboxylated Elastomer (“HACE”).

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns a HACE reaction HACEproduct of a least one of the reactive carboxyl groups in the CEcomposition and an amine compound having both an amine and an anionicfunctional group and a formula

where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups andis aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicgroup, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0-1, n is 1-4,o is 1-2 and p is 1-4.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where R is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where X is an oxo acid of carbon, anoxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where a, m, n, and o are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound is apolypeptide.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group IA, IB, IIA, IIB,IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB, VA, VB, VIA, VIB, VIIB VIIIB metal ion, apositively charged organic species, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where n is 2, o is 1, a is 1 or 2,and p is 1 if a is 2 and 2 if a is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer hasplural reactive carboxyl groups and the amine compound includes anamount of the amine compound effective to react with at least a portionof the reactive functional groups on the carboxylated elastomer.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where from about 5% to 100% of the reactivecarboxyl groups on the carboxylated elastomer are reacted.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where M is a Group I metal.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where M is lithium, sodium, potassium, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where M is a Group I metal, R is hydrogen, R¹is aliphatic, and X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where a is 2, n is 1, o is 2, and pis 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where M is zinc, magnesium, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the CE has plural carboxylfunctional groups, or functional groups equivalent thereto, and has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, or a positively charged organicspecies.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where R⁴ is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where R⁴ is a protecting group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has aformula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or greater, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic oraromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is ananionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid ofsulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ is aGroup I metal ion, a positively charged organic moiety, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE product according tothe preceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE product according toone of the preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is apositively charged organic moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has aformula

HRN—(R¹)_(n)—(X⁻M⁺)₂

where n is 0 or greater, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, IV is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, X is an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon,an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinationsthereof, and W is Group I metal ion, or combinations of Group I metalions.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the according to one of thepreceding paragraphs comprising amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functionalgroups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs further comprising plural amine oramide functional groups provided by a polyamine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the polyamine is a diamine that isreacted with the carboxylated elastomer to form a first compound havingat least one reactive pendent amine group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer hasa formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer hasa formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce a first compound that is thenreacted with an anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride,succinic anhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reactedwith an anhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where reaction with the anhydrideproduces amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where reaction with an anhydrideproduces amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 0 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the polyamine istris-(2-aminoethyl)amine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactivefunctional group of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamineto produce amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactivefunctional group of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamineto form amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the amide or salt compound is reactedwith an anhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less to produce amide compoundshaving a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

or

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R¹⁰ independently ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2 and R¹⁰ groups arehydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs produced by reacting the amide orsalt compounds with a compound having both an amine and a saltfunctional group to produce ionomer reaction products having a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 andis 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R is hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is a linking groupand is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹⁰independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is a diamine thatis reacted with an anhydride to produce a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride,succinic anhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where n is 0 or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ and R⁷independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the first compound has aformula

where n is 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having aformula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having aformula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compoundwith the second compound to produce a HACE HACE product having a formula

or a salt ionomer HACE having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or greater, p is 1-4, qis greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, Ris hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compoundwith the second compound to produce an amide HACE reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer HACE HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the HACE HACE product isproduced by first coupling the amine compound with an anhydride to forma first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the anhydride is succinic anhydride,glutaric anhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, o is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto the preceding paragraph where the first compound is reacted with adiamine to produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁶ is analiphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety, and Xis an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reactedwith a diamine to produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, n′ is from about 1 to about20, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionicgroup.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE HACE product accordingto one of the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to produce HACE amide ionomer reactionproducts having a formula

or salt ionomer HACE reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is zero or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group. Another aspect of the invention concerns theHACE HACE product according to one of the preceding paragraphs where thesecond compound is reacted with the carboxylated elastomer to produceamide ionomer HACE reaction products having a formula

or salt ionomer HACE reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic group.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns a method for forming anHACE ionomer, comprisingproviding a carboxylated elastomer having at least one reactive carboxylgroup and/or isocyanate group, or functional group equivalent thereto orderived therefrom, and reacting the carboxylated elastomer with an aminecompound having both an amine and an anionic functional group and aformula

where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups andis aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicgroup, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0-1, n is 1-4,o is 1-2 and p is 1-4.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where R is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where m, n, a and o are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where M is selected from the group consistingof Group I and Group II metal cations.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where m is 2, n is 1, a is 1 or 2, and o is 1if a is 2 and 2 if a is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralreactive carboxyl groups and the method further comprises using anamount of the amine compound effective to react with at least a portionof the reactive functional groups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the effective amount is an amount sufficientto react with from about 5% to 100% of the reactive carboxyl groups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where a, m, n and o are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where M is a Group I metal.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where M is lithium, sodium, potassium, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal, R is hydrogen, R¹is aliphatic, and X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where a is 2, m is 1, n is 2, and o is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where M is zinc, magnesium, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or 1, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, R¹is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicspecies produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, anoxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ is a Group Imetal ion, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is an organiccation.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X-M-X—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion, a positively chargedorganic moiety, or combinations thereof, R and R³ independently arehydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and Xis an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acidof sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate, and the amine compound has aformula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—COO-M-OOC—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n independently is 0 or 1 R and R³ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R² independentlyare aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and M is a Group IImetal ion or a positively charged organic species, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralcarboxyl functional groups, or functional groups equivalent thereto, andhas a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species or a positively charged organicspecies.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where R⁴ is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where R⁴ is an ester protecting group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or 1, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is ananionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid ofsulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ isGroup I metal ion, a positively charged organic species, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is an organiccation.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

HRN—(R¹)_(n)—(X⁻M⁺)₂

where n is 0 or 1, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is ananionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid ofsulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ isGroup I metal ion, a positively charged organic species, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs comprising amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functionalgroups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs further comprising plural amine or amidefunctional groups provided by a polyamine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is a diamine that is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form a first compound having at leastone reactive pendent amine group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce a first compound that is then reactedwith an anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where reaction with the anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where reaction with an anhydride produces amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 0 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional group ofthe carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to produce amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional group ofthe carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to form amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amide or salt compound is reactedwith an anhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less to produce amide compoundshaving a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R¹⁰ independently ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2 and R¹⁰ groups are hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by reacting the amide or saltcompounds with a compound having both an amine and a salt functionalgroup to produce ionomer reaction products having a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 andis 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R is hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is a linking groupthat links amine and salt functional groups and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is a diamine that isreacted with an anhydride to produce a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where n is 0 or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ and R⁷independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound has a formula

where n is 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound with thesecond compound to produce an amide ionomer HACE HACE product having aformula

or a salt ionomer HACE HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound with thesecond compound to produce an amide ionomer HACE product having aformula

or a salt ionomer HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the HACE product is produced by firstcoupling the amine compound with an anhydride to form a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is succinic anhydride, glutaricanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE product according tothe preceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, o is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound is reacted with a diamineto produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety, and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with adiamine to produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, n′ is 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce HACE amide ionomer reaction productshaving a formula

or salt ionomer HACE reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁶ is analiphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links aminefunctional groups, and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce HACE amide ionomer reaction productshaving a formula

or salt ionomer HACE reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns a method for making agolf ball, comprising providing an ionomer comprising a reaction HACEproduct of a carboxylated elastomer having at least one reactivecarboxyl group, or functional groups equivalent thereto or derivedtherefrom, and an amine compound having both an amine and an anionicfunctional group and a formula

where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups andis aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicgroup, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0-1, n is 1-4,o is 1-2 and p is 1-4, and making at least one component of a golf ballcomprising the ionomer.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the golf ball is a multi-layered ball.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the golf ball is a 3-piece ball or a4-piece ball, and the method comprises forming at least one layer of thegolf ball comprising the ionomer.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the layer is a cover.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where R is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where m, n, a and o are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where R is hydrogen and R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where M is selected from the group consisting ofGroup I and Group II metal cations.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where m is 2, n is 1, a is 1 or 2, and o is 1if a is 2 and 2 if a is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralreactive carboxyl and the method further comprises using an amount ofthe amine compound effective to react with at least a portion of thereactive functional groups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the effective amount is an amount sufficientto react with from about 5% to about 100% of the reactive carboxylgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where a, n, o and p are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where M is lithium, sodium, potassium, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal, R is hydrogen, R¹is aliphatic, and X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where a is 2, n is 1, o is 2, and p is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where M is zinc, magnesium, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 1 or more, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X isan anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid ofsulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ isGroup I metal ion, a positively charged organic species, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is an organiccation.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X-M-X—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion, a positively chargedorganic moiety, or combinations thereof, R and R³ independently arehydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and Xis an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acidof sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate, and the amine compound has aformula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—COO-M-OOC—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n independently is 0 or 1, R and R³ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R² independentlyare aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and M is a Group IImetal ion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralcarboxyl functional groups, or functional groups equivalent thereto, andhas a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species or a positively charged organicspecies.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where R⁴ is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where R⁴ is an ester protecting group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or greater, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic oraromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is ananionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid ofsulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ is aGroup I metal ion, a positively charged organic moiety, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

HRN—(R¹)_(n)—(X⁻M⁺)₂

where n is 0 or greater, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, X is an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon,an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinationsthereof, and W is Group I metal ion, or combinations of Group I metalions.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs comprising HACE amide compounds having aformula

or HACE salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functionalgroups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs further comprising plural amine or amidefunctional groups provided by a polyamine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is a diamine that is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form a first compound having at leastone reactive pendent amine group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce a first compound that is then reactedwith an anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where reaction with the anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where reaction with an anhydride produces amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 0 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, typicallyhydrogen or alkyl.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional group ofthe carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to produce amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional group ofthe carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to form amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the amide or salt compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less to produce amide compoundshaving a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R¹⁰ independently ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2 and R¹⁰ groups are hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by reacting the amide or saltcompounds with a compound having both an amine and a salt functionalgroup to produce ionomer amide compounds having a formula

or salt ionomer compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 andis 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R is hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is a linking groupthat links amine and salt functional groups and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is a diamine that isreacted with an anhydride to produce a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where n is 0 or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ and R⁷independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound has a formula

where n is 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound with thesecond compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE product havinga formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound with thesecond compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE product havinga formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the HACE product is produced by firstcoupling the amine compound with an anhydride to form a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is succinic anhydride, glutaricanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, o is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionicgroup.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound is reacted with a diamineto produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety, and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with adiamine to produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, pis 1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce amide ionomer reaction products havinga formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce amide ionomer reaction products havinga formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the ionomer is blended with at least asecond polymer.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the golf ball further comprises fromabout 1 to about 99 weight percent of an additional thermoplastic orthermoset polymeric material selected from synthetic and naturalrubbers, thermoset polyurethanes and thermoset polyureas, unimodalethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, unimodal ethylene/carboxylicacid/carboxylate terpolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidcopolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers,unimodal ionomers, bimodal ionomers, modified unimodal ionomers,modified bimodal ionomers, polyurethane ionomer, thermoplasticpolyurethanes, thermoplastic polyureas, polyamides, copolyamides,polyesters, copolyesters, polycarbonates, polyolefins, halogenatedpolyolefins, halogenated polyethylenes, polyphenylene oxide,polyphenylene sulfide, diallyl phthalate polymer, polyimides, polyvinylchloride, polyamide-ionomer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyarylate,polyacrylate, polyphenylene ether, impact-modified polyphenylene ether,polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenecopolymer styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN),acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylonitrile, styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA)polymer, styrenic copolymer, functionalized styrenic copolymer,functionalized styrenic terpolymer, styrenic terpolymer, cellulosepolymer, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), ethylene-propylene-dieneterpolymer (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA),ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurea,polysiloxane, a compound having a general formula(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)—OR_(y))_(m), wherein R is selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, one or more C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic systems, one ormore cycloaliphatic systems, one or more aromatic systems, R′ is abridging group comprising one or more unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, one or more substitutedstraight chain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, one or morearomatic groups, one or more oligomers each containing up to 12repeating units, and when X is C or S or P, m is 1-3, when X=C, n=1 andy=1, when X=S, n=2 and y=1, and when X=P, n=2 and y=2, and any and allcombinations of such materials.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the golf ball has a core comprising 80% byweight or greater poly(1,4-butadiene) rubber.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one layer comprises a fiber, afiller, or both.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one layer of the golf ballcomprises a polymer composition comprising a cross-linking agentselected from sulfur compounds, peroxides, azides, maleimides, e-beamradiation, gamma-radiation, a co-cross-linking agent comprising zinc ormagnesium salts of an unsaturated fatty acid having from about 3 toabout 8 carbon atoms, a base resin, a peptizer, an accelerator, a UVstabilizer, a photostabilizer, a photoinitiator, a co-initiator, anantioxidant, a colorant, a pigment, a dispersant, a mold release agent,a processing aid, a fiber, a filler including a density adjustingfiller, a nano-filler, an inorganic filler, an organic filler, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where at least one layer of the golf ballcomprises a filler selected from the group consisting of precipitatedhydrated silica, limestone, clay, talc, asbestos, barytes, glass fibers,aramid fibers, mica, calcium metasilicate, barium sulfate, zinc sulfide,lithopone, silicates, silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth, calciumcarbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium carbonate, calcium sulfate,magnesium sulfate, barium sulfate, tungsten, steel, copper, cobalt,iron, metal alloys, tungsten carbide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, bariumoxide, titanium dioxide, metal stearates, particulate carbonaceousmaterials, nanofillers and any and all combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to thepreceding paragraph where the nanofiller is an inorganic clay selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrotalcite, phyllosilicate, saponite,hectorite, beidellite, stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, mica,montmorillonite, micafluoride, octosilicate, and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is surface treated with acompatibilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-, thiol-,amino-, epoxy-, carboxylic acid-, ester-, amide-, and siloxy-groupcontaining compounds, oligomers, polymers and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is intercalated within thepolymeric material.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the method according to one ofthe preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is exfoliated within thepolymer.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns a golf ball comprisinga core, at least one intermediate layer and a cover, at least one of thecore, intermediate layer and cover comprising an ionomer reaction HACEproduct of a carboxylated elastomer having at least one reactivecarboxyl group, or functional groups equivalent thereto or derivedtherefrom, and an amine compound having both an amine and an anionicfunctional group and a formula

where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups andis aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicgroup, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0-1, n is 1-4,o is 1-2 and p is 1-4.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the layer is a cover.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where X is an anionic species produced froman oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid ofphosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where m, n, a and o are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is selected from the group consisting ofGroup I and Group II metal cations.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where m is 2, n is 1, a is 1 or 2, and o is1 if a is 2 and 2 if a is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralreactive carboxyl groups and at least a portion of the reactivefunctional groups are reacted with the amine compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the portion is from about 5% to about 100% ofthe reactive carboxyl groups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where a, m, n and o are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is lithium, sodium, potassium, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal, R is hydrogen,R¹ is aliphatic, and X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where a is 2, m is 1, n is 2, and o is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is zinc, magnesium, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula OCN-G-NCO where G is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 1 or greater, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, X is an oxo acid of sulfur, a carboxylate, an oxo acid ofphosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ is Group metal ion, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is an organiccation.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)X-M-X—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion, a positively chargedorganic moiety, or combinations thereof, R and R³ independently arehydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and Xis an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acidof sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate, and the amine compound has aformula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—COO-M-OOC—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n independently is 0 or 1, R and R³ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R² independentlyare aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and M is a Group IImetal ion or a positively charged organic species.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralcarboxyl functional groups, or functional groups equivalent thereto, andhas a formula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species or a positively charged organicspecies.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where R⁴ is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R⁴ is an ester protecting group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 1 or more, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X isan anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid ofsulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺ ismetal ion, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—(X⁻M⁺)₂

where n is 1 or more, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, or aromatic, Xis an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acidof sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof, and M⁺is Group I metal ion, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functionalgroups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs further comprising plural amine or amidefunctional groups provided by a polyamine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is a diamine that is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form a first compound having at leastone reactive pendent amine group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce a first compound that is then reactedwith an anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where reaction with the anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where reaction with an anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 0 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine istris-(2-aminoethyl)amine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional groupof the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to produce amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional groupof the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to form amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the amide or salt compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less to produce amide compoundshaving a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R¹⁰ independently ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2 and R¹⁰ groups are hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by reacting the amide or saltcompounds with a compound having both an amine and a salt functionalgroup to produce ionomer reaction products having a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 andis 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R is hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is a linking groupthat links amine and salt functional groups and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is a diamine that isreacted with an anhydride to produce a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where n is 0 or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ and R⁷independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound has a formula

where n is 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound withthe second compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or greater, p is 1-4, qis greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, Ris hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound withthe second compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the HACE product is produced by firstcoupling the amine compound with an anhydride to form a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is succinic anhydride, glutaricanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, o is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound is reacted with a diamineto produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁶ is analiphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety, and Xis an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with adiamine to produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, n′ is from about 1 to about20, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionicgroup.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce amide ionomer reaction productshaving a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is zero or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce amide ionomer reaction productshaving a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising from about 1 to about 99 weightpercent of an additional thermoplastic or thermoset polymeric materialselected from synthetic and natural rubbers, thermoset polyurethanes andthermoset polyureas, unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers,unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers, bimodalethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylicacid/carboxylate terpolymers, unimodal ionomers, bimodal ionomers,modified unimodal ionomers, modified bimodal ionomers, thermoplasticpolyurethanes, thermoplastic polyureas, polyamides, copolyamides,polyesters, copolyesters, polycarbonates, polyolefins, halogenatedpolyolefins, halogenated polyethylenes, polyphenylene oxide,polyphenylene sulfide, diallyl phthalate polymer, polyimides, polyvinylchloride, polyamide-ionomer, polyurethane-ionomer, polyvinyl alcohol,polyarylate, polyacrylate, polyphenylene ether, impact-modifiedpolyphenylene ether, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN),acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylonitrile, styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA)polymer, styrenic copolymer, functionalized styrenic copolymer,functionalized styrenic terpolymer, styrenic terpolymer, cellulosepolymer, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), ethylene-propylene-dieneterpolymer (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA),ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurea,polysiloxane, a compound having a general formula(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)—OR_(y))_(m), wherein R is selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, one or more C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic systems, one ormore cycloaliphatic systems, one or more aromatic systems, R¹ is abridging group comprising one or more unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, one or more substitutedstraight chain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, one or morearomatic groups, one or more oligomers each containing up to 12repeating units, and when X is C or S or P, m is 1-3, when X=C, n=1 andy=1, when X=S, n=2 and y=1, and when X=P, n=2 and y=2, and any and allcombinations of such materials.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph having a core comprising 80% by weight or greaterpoly(1,4-butadiene) rubber.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising a primary, secondary, or tertiaryaliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic peroxide crosslinking agent.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the cross-linking agent contains plural peroxygroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the cross-linking agent is a diacetylperoxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide,2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(benzoylperoxy)hexane,1,4-bis-(tert-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, tert-butylperoxybenzoate,2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(tert-butylperoxy)hexyne,1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-tri-methylcyclohexane,di-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane, 1,4-di-(2-tert-butyl peroxyisopropyl)benzene, tert-butylperbenzoate, tert-butyl cumyl peroxide, and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one layer comprises a fiber,a filler, or both.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where at least one layer of the golf ball comprisesa polymer composition comprising a cross-linking agent selected fromsulfur compounds, peroxides, azides, maleimides, e-beam radiation,gamma-radiation, a co-cross-linking agent comprising zinc or magnesiumsalts of an unsaturated fatty acid having from about 3 to about 8 carbonatoms, a base resin, a peptizer, an accelerator, a UV stabilizer, aphotostabilizer, a photoinitiator, a co-initiator, an antioxidant, acolorant, a pigment, a dispersant, a mold release agent, a processingaid, a fiber, a filler including a density adjusting filler, anano-filler, an inorganic filler, an organic filler, and combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 30 to about 190.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 40 to about 160.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 50 to about 130.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 50 to about 100.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.01 to about 0.20 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.02 to about 0.015 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.03 to about 0.1 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.03 to about 0.06 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having aShore D hardness of greater than about 25.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having aShore D hardness of greater than about 30.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having aShore D hardness of greater than about 40.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one layer comprises apeptizer comprising an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt of anorganic sulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound,and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising a filler selected from the groupconsisting of precipitated hydrated silica, limestone, clay, talc,asbestos, barytes, glass fibers, aramid fibers, mica, calciummetasilicate, barium sulfate, zinc sulfide, lithopone, silicates,silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, magnesiumcarbonate, barium carbonate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, bariumsulfate, tungsten, steel, copper, cobalt, iron, metal alloys, tungstencarbide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, titanium dioxide,metal stearates, particulate carbonaceous materials, nanofillers and anyand all combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the nanofiller is an inorganic clay selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrotalcite, phyllosilicate, saponite,hectorite, beidellite, stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, mica,montmorillonite, micafluoride, octosilicate, and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is surface treated witha compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-, thiol-,amino-, epoxy-, carboxylic acid-, ester-, amide-, and siloxy-groupcontaining compounds, oligomers, polymers and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is intercalated withinthe polymeric material.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is exfoliated withinthe polymer.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns a three-piece golfball, comprising a rubber-based core, and at least one intermediatelayer and an outer cover layer, at least one of the intermediate layerand outer cover layer comprising a composition comprising an ionomerreaction HACE product of a carboxylated elastomer having at least onereactive carboxyl group, or functional groups equivalent thereto, and anamine compound having the following formula

where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups andis aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicgroup, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0-1, n is 1-4,o is 1-2 and p is 1-4.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the intermediate layer is formed from thecomposition.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the layer is a cover.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where X is an anionic species produced froman oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid ofphosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where a, m, n, o and p are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is selected from the group consisting ofGroup I and Group II metal cations.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where m is 2, n is 1, a is 1 or 2, and o is1 if a is 2 and 2 if a is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralreactive carboxyl groups and at least a portion of the reactivefunctional groups are reacted with the amine compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the portion is from about 5% to about 100% ofthe reactive carboxyl groups groups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where a, m, n, o and p are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is lithium, sodium, potassium, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal, R is hydrogen,R¹ is aliphatic, and X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where a is 2, m is 1, n is 2, o and 1 and pis 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is zinc, magnesium, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula OCN-G-NCO where G is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or greater, M⁺ is Group I metal ion, a positively chargedorganic species, or combinations thereof, R is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is an organiccation.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X-M-X—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion, a positively chargedorganic moiety, or combinations thereof, R and R³ independently arehydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and Xis an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acidof sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate, and the amine compound has aformula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—COO-M-OOC—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n independently is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion or apositively charged organic species, R and R³ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralcarboxyl functional groups, or functional groups equivalent thereto, andhas a formula

where R⁴ groups independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic, aromatic, a positively charged metal species or apositively charged organic species.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where R⁴ is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R⁴ is an ester protecting group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or greater, M⁺ is Group I metal ion, a positively chargedorganic species, or combinations thereof, R is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

HRN—(R¹)_(n)—(X⁻M⁺)₂

where n is 0 or greater, and M⁺ is Group I metal ion, a positivelycharged organic species, or combinations thereof is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic, or aromatic, and X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functionalgroups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs further comprising plural amine or amidefunctional groups provided by a polyamine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is a diamine that is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form a first compound having at leastone reactive pendent amine group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce a first compound that is then reactedwith an anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where reaction with the anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where reaction with an anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 0 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the HACE product according toone of the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to produceamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional groupof the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to form amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the amide or salt compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less to produce amide compoundshaving a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R¹⁰ independently ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2 and R¹⁰ groups are hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by reacting the amide or saltcompounds with a compound having both an amine and a salt functionalgroup to produce ionomer amide reaction products having a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 andis 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R is hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is a linking groupthat links amine and salt functional groups and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is a diamine that isreacted with an anhydride to produce a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where n is 0 or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ and R⁷independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound has a formula

where n is 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound withthe second compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or greater, p is 1-4, qis greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, Ris hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound withthe second compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the HACE product is produced by firstcoupling the amine compound with an anhydride to form a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is succinic anhydride, glutaricanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, o is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound is reacted with a diamineto produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁶ is analiphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety, and Xis an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with adiamine to produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, n′ is from about 1 to about20, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionicgroup.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce amide ionomer reaction productshaving a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is zero or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce amide ionomer reaction productshaving a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising from about 1 to about 99 weightpercent of an additional thermoplastic or thermoset polymeric materialselected from synthetic and natural rubbers, thermoset polyurethanes andthermoset polyureas, unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers,unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers, bimodalethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylicacid/carboxylate terpolymers, unimodal ionomers, bimodal ionomers,modified unimodal ionomers, modified bimodal ionomers, thermoplasticpolyurethanes, thermoplastic polyureas, polyamides, copolyamides,polyesters, copolyesters, polycarbonates, polyolefins, halogenatedpolyolefins, halogenated polyethylenes, polyphenylene oxide,polyphenylene sulfide, diallyl phthalate polymer, polyimides, polyvinylchloride, polyamide-ionomer, polyurethane-ionomer, polyvinyl alcohol,polyarylate, polyacrylate, polyphenylene ether, impact-modifiedpolyphenylene ether, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN),acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylonitrile, styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA)polymer, styrenic copolymer, functionalized styrenic copolymer,functionalized styrenic terpolymer, styrenic terpolymer, cellulosepolymer, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), ethylene-propylene-dieneterpolymer (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA),ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurea,polysiloxane, a compound having a general formula(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)—OR_(y))_(m), wherein R is selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, one or more C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic systems, one ormore cycloaliphatic systems, one or more aromatic systems, R¹ is abridging group comprising one or more unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, one or more substitutedstraight chain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, one or morearomatic groups, one or more oligomers each containing up to 12repeating units, and when X is C or S or P, m is 1-3, when X=C, n=1 andy=1, when X=S, n=2 and y=1, and when X=P, n=2 and y=2, and any and allcombinations of such materials.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph having a core comprising 80% by weight or greaterpoly(1,4-butadiene) rubber.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising a primary, secondary, or tertiaryaliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic peroxide crosslinking agent.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the cross-linking agent contains plural peroxygroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the cross-linking agent is a diacetylperoxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide,2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(benzoylperoxy)hexane,1,4-bis-(tert-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, tert-butylperoxybenzoate,2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(tert-butylperoxy)hexyne,1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-tri-methylcyclohexane,di-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane, 1,4-di-(2-tert-butyl peroxyisopropyl)benzene, tert-butylperbenzoate, tert-butyl cumyl peroxide, and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one layer comprises a fiber,a filler, or both.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one layer includes a polymercomposition comprising a cross-linking agent selected from sulfurcompounds, peroxides, azides, maleimides, e-beam radiation,gamma-radiation, a co-cross-linking agent comprising zinc or magnesiumsalts of an unsaturated fatty acid having from about 3 to about 8 carbonatoms, a base resin, a peptizer, an accelerator, a UV stabilizer, aphotostabilizer, a photoinitiator, a co-initiator, an antioxidant, acolorant, a pigment, a dispersant, a mold release agent, a processingaid, a fiber, a filler including a density adjusting filler, anano-filler, an inorganic filler, an organic filler, and combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 30 to about 190.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 40 to about 160.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 50 to about 130.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having a core with a PGA compression of fromabout 50 to about 100.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.01 to about 0.20 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.02 to about 0.015 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.03 to about 0.1 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having athickness of from about 0.03 to about 0.06 inch.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having aShore D hardness of greater than about 25.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having aShore D hardness of greater than about 30.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having one or more intermediate layers and acover layer, the one or more intermediate layers or cover layer having aShore D hardness of greater than about 40.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs having at least one composition comprisingat least one peptizer comprising an organic sulfur compound, a metalsalt of an organic sulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organicsulfur compound, and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising a filler selected from the groupconsisting of precipitated hydrated silica, limestone, clay, talc,asbestos, barytes, glass fibers, aramid fibers, mica, calciummetasilicate, barium sulfate, zinc sulfide, lithopone, silicates,silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, magnesiumcarbonate, barium carbonate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, bariumsulfate, tungsten, steel, copper, cobalt, iron, metal alloys, tungstencarbide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, titanium dioxide,metal stearates, particulate carbonaceous materials, nanofillers and anyand all combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the nanofiller is an inorganic clay selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrotalcite, phyllosilicate, saponite,hectorite, beidellite, stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, mica,montmorillonite, micafluoride, octosilicate, and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is surface treated witha compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-, thiol-,amino-, epoxy-, carboxylic acid-, ester-, amide-, and siloxy-groupcontaining compounds, oligomers, polymers and combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the nanofiller is intercalated within thepolymeric material.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the nanofiller is exfoliated withinthe polymer.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments concerns a four-piece golf ball,comprising a rubber-based core having a center, and an innerintermediate layer, an outer intermediate layer, and a cover, at leastone of the inner layer, outer intermediate layer or cover comprising anionomer reaction HACE product of a carboxylated elastomer having atleast one reactive carboxyl group, or functional groups equivalentthereto or derived therefrom, and an amine compound having both an amineand an anionic functional group and a formula

where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups andis aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionicgroup, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, nis 1-4, o is 1-2 and p is 1-4.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where R is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where X is an anionic species produced froman oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid ofphosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where a, m, n, o and p are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where R is hydrogen and R¹ is aliphatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is selected from the group consisting ofGroup I and Group II metal cations.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where n is 2, o is 1, a is 1 or 2, and p is1 if a is 2 and 2 if a is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralreactive carboxyl groups and at least a portion of the reactivefunctional groups are reacted with the amine compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the portion is from about 5% to about 100% ofthe reactive carboxyl groups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where a, m, n, o and p are 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where M is lithium, sodium, potassium, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is a Group I metal, R is hydrogen,R¹ is aliphatic, and X is carboxylate.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where a is 2, n is 1, o is 2, and p is 1.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where M is zinc, magnesium, or combinationsthereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula OCN-G-NCO where G is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or greater, M⁺ is Group I metal ion, a positively chargedorganic species, or combinations thereof, R is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionic species produced from an oxoacid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, orcombinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where X is carboxylate and M is a positivelycharged organic species.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X-M-X—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion, a positively chargedorganic moiety, or combinations thereof, R and R³ independently arehydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and Xis an anionic species produced from an oxo acid of carbon, an oxo acidof sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous, or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate, and the amine compound has aformula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—CO-M-OC—(R²)_(n)—R³HN

where n independently is 0 or 1, M is a Group II metal ion or apositively charged organic species, R and R³ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R¹ and R²independently are aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has pluralcarboxyl functional groups, or functional groups equivalent thereto, andhas a formula

where R⁴ groups independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic, aromatic, a positively charged metal species or apositively charged organic species.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where R⁴ is hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where R⁴ is an ester protecting group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

RHN—(R¹)_(n)—X⁻M⁺

where n is 0 or greater, M⁺ is Group I metal ion, a positively chargedorganic species, or combinations thereof, R is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where X is carboxylate and M is a Group Ia metalion.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the amine compound has a formula

HRN—(R¹)_(n)—(X⁻M⁺)₂

where n is 0 or greater, M⁺ is Group I metal ion, a positively chargedorganic species, or combinations thereof, R is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic, or aromatic, and X is an anionic species produced from anoxo acid of carbon, an oxo acid of sulfur, an oxo acid of phosphorous,or combinations thereof.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs comprising amide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functionalgroups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X isan anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs further comprising plural amine or amidefunctional groups provided by a polyamine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is a diamine that is reactedwith the carboxylated elastomer to form a first compound having at leastone reactive pendent amine group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the carboxylated elastomer has aformula

where R⁴ is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic, aromatic, apositively charged metal species, a positively charged organic species,or combinations thereof, and where at least one reactive functionalgroup of the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the diamine to producefirst amide compounds having a formula

or first salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to produce a first compound that is then reactedwith an anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where reaction with the anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where reaction with an anhydride producesamide compounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 0 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine has a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the polyamine is tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional groupof the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to produce amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R⁸ independently is aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic, and R⁹independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where at least one reactive functional groupof the carboxylated elastomer reacts with the polyamine to form amidecompounds having a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the amide or salt compound is reacted with ananhydride having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less to produce amide compoundshaving a formula

or salt compounds having a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R¹⁰ independently ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where q is 1 or 2 and R¹⁰ groups are hydrogen.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by reacting the amide or saltcompounds with a compound having both an amine and a salt functionalgroup to produce ionomer amide reaction products having a formula

or salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 andis 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R is hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is a linking groupthat links amine and salt functional groups and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹⁰ independently is hydrogen, aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the polyamine is a diamine that isreacted with an anhydride to produce a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is glutaric anhydride, succinicanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(R⁶)_(n)—NR⁷H

where n is 0 or greater, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic,alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic moiety that links amine functionalgroups.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the diamine has a formula

HR⁵N—(CH₂)_(n)—NHR⁷

where n is from 1 to about 20, and R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where n is 0 or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ and R⁷independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticmoiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound has a formula

where n is 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, and R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where n is zero or greater, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, R⁵ andR⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, and R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromaticbridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with thecarboxylated elastomer to form second HACE amide compounds having aformula

or second HACE salt compounds having a formula

where n is from 1 to about 20, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, andR⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs produced by neutralizing at least onecarboxylic acid functional group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound withthe second compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or greater, p is 1-4, qis greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, Ris hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs formed by reacting the amine compound withthe second compound to produce an amide ionomer reaction HACE producthaving a formula

or a salt ionomer reaction HACE product having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, and R⁶ isan aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the HACE product is produced by firstcoupling the amine compound with an anhydride to form a first compound.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride is succinic anhydride, glutaricanhydride or maleic anhydride.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the anhydride has a formula

where q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound has a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, o is 1 or more, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to thepreceding paragraph where the first compound is reacted with a diamineto produce second amide compounds having a formula

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is zero or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group that links amine and salt functional groups and isaliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independentlyare hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁶ is analiphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic bridging moiety, and Xis an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the first compound is reacted with adiamine to produce second amide compounds having a

or second salt compounds having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, n′ is from about 1 to about20, p is 1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positivelycharged species, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen,aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic and X is an anionicgroup.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce HACE amide ionomer reactionproducts having a formula

or HACE salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is zero or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is 0 or 1, p is 1-4, q isgreater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively charged species, R ishydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R¹ is alinking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R⁵and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphaticor aromatic, R⁶ is an aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,and X is an anionic group.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the golf ball according to oneof the preceding paragraphs where the second compound is reacted withthe carboxylated elastomer to produce HACE amide ionomer reactionproducts having a formula

or HACE salt ionomer reaction products having a formula

where a is 1-4, m is 0 or 1, n is 1-4, n′ is from 1 to about 20, p is1-4, q is greater than 0 and is 5 or less, M is a positively chargedspecies, R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic,R¹ is a linking group and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic oraromatic, R⁵ and R⁷ independently are hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic,arylaliphatic or aromatic, and X is an anionic group.

The HACE's may be used directly to prepare the core, cover and/orintermediate layers of the golf balls of the present invention. TheHACE's may also be used in blends with other materials, which othermaterials may also be used as a separate component of the core, coverlayer or intermediate layer of the golf balls of the present invention.These other materials include, without limitation, synthetic and naturalrubbers, thermoset polymers such as thermoset polyurethanes or thermosetpolyureas, as well as thermoplastic polymers including thermoplasticelastomers such as metallocene catalyzed polymer, unimodalethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, unimodal ethylene/carboxylicacid/carboxylate terpolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidcopolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers,thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyureas, polyamides,copolyamides, polyesters, copolyesters, polycarbonates, polyolefins,halogenated (e.g. chlorinated) polyolefins, halogenated polyalkylenecompounds, such as halogenated polyethylene [e.g. chlorinatedpolyethylene (CPE)], polyalkenamer, polyphenylene oxides, polyphenylenesulfides, diallyl phthalate polymers, polyimides, polyvinyl chlorides,polyamide-ionomers, polyurethane-ionomers, polyvinyl alcohols,polyarylates, polyacrylates, polyphenylene ethers, impact-modifiedpolyphenylene ethers, polystyrenes, high impact polystyrenes,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, styrene-acrylonitriles(SAN), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylonitriles, styrene-maleic anhydride(S/MA) polymers, styrenic block copolymers includingstyrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene,(SEBS) and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS), styrenicterpolymers, functionalized styrenic block copolymers includinghydroxylated, functionalized styrenic copolymers, and terpolymers,cellulosic polymers, liquid crystal polymers (CE),ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetatecopolymers (EVA), ethylene-propylene copolymers, propylene elastomers(such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,157, to Kim et al, theentire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference), ethylenevinyl acetates, polyureas, and polysiloxanes and any and allcombinations thereof.

In addition to using directly or in blends to prepare the golf ballcomponents of the present invention, the HACE'S may be crosslinkedbefore or after forming into the desired golf ball part. When used in ablend, the crosslinking may occur before or after the blending step. Inview of the unsaturation and the pendant carboxylate functionality ofthe HACE'S, there are a number of available cross linking mechanismswhich may be utilized. Given the unsaturation present in the elastomerbackbone the CE compositions are also amenable to the various methodsused to crosslink elastomeric rubber compositions includingvulcanization, and radiation crosslinking. Radiation can be applied tothe unsaturated polymer mixture by any known method, including usingmicrowave or gamma radiation, or an electron beam device. Additives mayalso be used to improve radiation curing of the diene polymer. Alsogiven the pendant carboxylate functionality of the HACE'S they are alsoamenable to the crosslinking mechanisms typically invoked in ionomersvia neutralization and subsequent metal ion clustering.

One preferred method crosslinking method involves the metal ioncrosslinking mechanism typically utilized in the preparation of ionomerssuch as Surlyn which results from the neutralization ofethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers with a base capable of neutralizingthe acidic functional groups which typically is a base having a metalcation. These metals are from groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA,IVB, VA, VB, VIA, VIB, VIIB and VIIIB of the periodic table. Examples ofthese metals include lithium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium,calcium, manganese, tungsten, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel, hafnium,copper, zinc, barium, zirconium, and tin. Suitable basic metal compoundsinclude for example, metal salts, preferably metal hydroxides, metaloxides, metal carbonates, metal acetates, metal stearates, metallaureates, metal oleates, metal palmitates and the like.

Preferably the CE composition is crosslinked using the typicalperoxide-based crosslinking systems typically used in golf ball corepreparation. Suitable cross-linking agents include peroxides, sulfurcompounds, or other known chemical cross-linking agents, as well asmixtures of these. Non-limiting examples of suitable cross-linkingagents include primary, secondary, or tertiary aliphatic or aromaticorganic peroxides. Peroxides containing more than one peroxy group canbe used, such as 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane and1,4-di-(2-tert-butyl peroxyisopropyl)benzene. Both symmetrical andasymmetrical peroxides can be used, for example, tert-butyl perbenzoateand tert-butyl cumyl peroxide. Peroxides incorporating carboxyl groupsalso are suitable. The decomposition of peroxides used as cross-linkingagents in the present invention can be brought about by applying thermalenergy, shear, irradiation, reaction with other chemicals, or anycombination of these. Both homolytically and heterolytically decomposedperoxide can be used in the present invention. Non-limiting examples ofsuitable peroxides include: diacetyl peroxide; di-tert-butyl peroxide;dibenzoyl peroxide; dicumyl peroxide;2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(benzoylperoxy)hexane;1,4-bis-(t-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene; t-butylperoxybenzoate;2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3, such as Trigonox 145-45B,marketed by Akrochem Corp. of Akron, Ohio; 1,1-bis(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5tri-methylcyclohexane, such as Varox 231-XL, marketed by R.T. VanderbiltCo., Inc. of Norwalk, Conn.; and di-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)peroxide. Thecross-linking agents can be blended in total amounts of about 0.05 partto about 5 parts, more preferably about 0.2 part to about 3 parts, andmost preferably about 0.2 part to about 2 parts, by weight of thecross-linking agents per 100 parts by weight of the unsaturated polymer.

Each cross-linking agent has a characteristic decomposition temperatureat which 50% of the cross-linking agent has decomposed when subjected tothat temperature for a specified time period (t_(1/2)). For example,1,1-bis-(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-tri-methylcyclohexane at t_(1/2)=0.1 hrhas a decomposition temperature of 138° C. and2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3 at t_(1/2)=0.1 hr has adecomposition temperature of 182° C. Two or more cross-linking agentshaving different characteristic decomposition temperatures at the samet_(1/2) may be blended in the composition. For example, where at leastone cross-linking agent has a first characteristic decompositiontemperature less than 150° C., and at least one cross-linking agent hasa second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C.,the composition weight ratio of the at least one cross-linking agenthaving the first characteristic decomposition temperature to the atleast one cross-linking agent having the second characteristicdecomposition temperature can range from 5:95 to 95:5, or morepreferably from 10:90 to 50:50.

Suitable co-cross-linking agents, may be a metal salt of an unsaturatedcarboxylic acid. Examples of these include zinc and magnesium salts ofunsaturated fatty acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, such as acrylicacid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid, palmitic acidwith the zinc salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid being mostpreferred. The unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt can be blended ina rubber either as a preformed metal salt, or by introducing anα,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and a metal oxide or hydroxide into therubber composition, and allowing them to react in the rubber compositionto form a metal salt. The unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt can beblended in any desired amount, but preferably in amounts of about 10parts to about 60 parts by weight of the unsaturated carboxylic acid per100 parts by weight of the synthetic rubber.

The crosslinking package for the CE compositions may also incorporateone or more of the so-called “peptizers”. The peptizer preferablycomprises an organic sulfur compound and/or its metal or non-metal salt.Examples of such organic sulfur compounds include thiophenols, such aspentachlorothiophenol, 4-butyl-o-thiocresol, 4 t-butyl-p-thiocresol, and2-benzamidothiophenol; thiocarboxylic acids, such as thiobenzoic acid;4,4′ dithio dimorpholine; and, sulfides, such as dixylyl disulfide,dibenzoyl disulfide; dibenzothiazyl disulfide; di(pentachlorophenyl)disulfide; dibenzamido diphenyldisulfide (DBDD), and alkylated phenolsulfides, such as VULTAC marketed by Atofina Chemicals, Inc. ofPhiladelphia, Pa. Preferred organic sulfur compounds includepentachlorothiophenol, and dibenzamido diphenyldisulfide.

Examples of the metal salt of an organic sulfur compound include sodium,potassium, lithium, magnesium calcium, barium, and cesium and zinc saltsof the above-mentioned thiophenols and thiocarboxylic acids, with thezinc salt of pentachlorothiophenol being most preferred.

Examples of the non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound includeammonium salts of the above-mentioned thiophenols and thiocarboxylicacids wherein the ammonium cation has the general formula [NR¹R²R³R⁴]⁺where R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, a C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic moiety, and anyand all combinations thereof, with the most preferred being the NH₄⁺-salt of pentachlorothiophenol.

Additional peptizers include aromatic or conjugated peptizers comprisingone or more heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur. Moretypically, such peptizers are heteroaryl or heterocyclic compoundshaving at least one heteroatom, and potentially plural heteroatoms,where the plural heteroatoms may be the same or different. Suchpeptizers include peptizers such as an indole peptizer, a quinolinepeptizer, an isoquinoline peptizer, a pyridine peptizer, purinepeptizer, a pyrimidine peptizer, a diazine peptizer, a pyrazinepeptizer, a triazine peptizer, a carbazole peptizer, or combinations ofsuch peptizers.

Suitable peptizers also may include one or more additional functionalgroups, such as halogens, particularly chlorine; a sulfur-containingmoiety exemplified by thiols, where the functional group is sulfhydryl(—SH), thioethers, where the functional group is —SR, disulfides,(R₁S—SR₂), etc.; and combinations of functional groups. Such peptizersare more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,030,411 in the name of HyunKim et al, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated byreference. A most preferred example is2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-pyridinethiol (TCPT).

The peptizer, if employed is present in an amount up to about 10, fromabout 0.01 to about 10, preferably of from about 0.10 to about 7, morepreferably of from about 0.15 to about 5 parts by weight per 100 partsby weight of the synthetic rubber component.

The CE crosslinking compositions can also comprise one or moreaccelerators of one or more classes. Accelerators are added to anunsaturated polymer to increase the vulcanization rate and/or decreasethe vulcanization temperature. Accelerators can be of any class knownfor rubber processing including mercapto-, sulfenamide-, thiuram,dithiocarbamate, dithiocarbamyl-sulfenamide, xanthate, guanidine, amine,thiourea, and dithiophosphate accelerators. Specific commercialaccelerators include 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and its metal or non-metalsalts, such as Vulkacit Mercapto C, Mercapto MGC, Mercapto ZM-5, and ZMmarketed by Bayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany, Nocceler M, Nocceler MZ,and Nocceler M-60 marketed by Ouchisinko Chemical Industrial Company,Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, and MBT and ZMBT marketed by Akrochem Corporationof Akron, Ohio. A more complete list of commercially availableaccelerators is given in The Vanderbilt Rubber Handbook: 13^(th) Edition(1990, R.T. Vanderbilt Co.), pp. 296-330, in Encyclopedia of PolymerScience and Technology, Vol. 12 (1970, John Wiley & Sons), pp. 258-259,and in Rubber Technology Handbook (1980, Hanser/Gardner Publications),pp. 234-236. Preferred accelerators include 2-mercaptobenzothiazole(MBT) and its salts. The synthetic rubber composition can furtherincorporate from about 0.1 part to about 10 parts by weight of theaccelerator per 100 parts by weight of the rubber. More preferably, theball composition can further incorporate from about 0.2 part to about 5parts, and most preferably from about 0.5 part to about 1.5 parts, byweight of the accelerator per 100 parts by weight of the rubber.

One preferred material to use as a blend component with the CE and whichalso may be used as a separate component of the cover layer orintermediate layer of the golf balls of the present invention is a blockcopolymer including di and triblock copolymers incorporating a firstpolymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, and a second polymerblock having an olefinic and/or conjugated diene compound. Preferredaromatic vinyl compounds include styrene, α-methylstyrene, o-, m- orp-methylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 1,3-dimethylstyrene, vinylnaphthaleneand vinylanthracene. In particular, styrene and α-methylstyrene arepreferred. These aromatic vinyl compounds can each be used alone, or canbe used in combination of two or more kinds. The aromatic vinyl compoundis preferably contained in the block copolymer in an amount of from 5 to75% by weight, and more preferably from 10 to 65% by weight.

The conjugated diene compound, that constitutes another polymer block inthe block copolymer can include for example, 1,3-butadiene, isoprene,2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene and 1,3-hexadiene. Inparticular, isoprene and 1,3-butadiene are preferred. These conjugateddiene compounds can each be used alone, or can be used in combination oftwo or more kinds.

Preferred block copolymers include the styrenic block copolymers such asstyrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene,(SEBS) and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS). Commercialexamples include SEPTON marketed by Kuraray Company of Kurashiki, Japan;TOPRENE by Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd and KRATON marketed by KratonPolymers. Also included are functionalized styrenic block copolymers,including those where the block copolymer incorporates a first polymerblock having an aromatic vinyl compound, a second polymer block having aconjugated diene compound and a hydroxyl group located at a blockcopolymer, or its hydrogenation product. One such functionalizedstyrenic block copolymer is SEPTON HG-252.

Another preferred material to which the CE may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is an acidic polymerthat incorporates at least one type of an acidic functional group.Examples of such acidic polymers suitable for use as include, but arenot limited to, ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers andethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymers, orethylene and/or propylene maleic anhydride copolymers and terpolymers.Examples of such polymers which are commercially available include, butare not limited to, the Escor® 5000, 5001, 5020, 5050, 5070, 5100, 5110and 5200 series of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers sold by Exxon Mobil,the PRIMACOR® 1321, 1410, 1410-XT, 1420, 1430, 2912, 3150, 3330, 3340,3440, 3460, 4311, 4608 and 5980 series of ethylene-acrylic acidcopolymers sold by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. and theethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers such as Nucrel® 599, 699, 0903,0910, 925, 960, 2806, and 2906 sold by DuPont

Also included are the so called bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidpolymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,906, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference. These polymers comprise a firstcomponent comprising an ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈carboxylic acid high copolymer, particularly ethylene (meth)acrylic acidcopolymers and ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers, having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about80,000 to about 500,000, and a second component comprising anethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymers,particularly ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers having weightaverage molecular weight, Mw, of about 2,000 to about 30,000.

Another preferred material to which the CE may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is an ionomer resin.One family of such resins was developed in the mid-1960's, by E.I.DuPont de Nemours and Co., and is sold under the trademark SURLYN®.Preparation of such ionomers is well known, for example see U.S. Pat.No. 3,264,272. Generally speaking, most commercial ionomers are unimodaland consist of a polymer of a mono-olefin, e.g., an alkene, with anunsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids having 3 to 12 carbon atoms. Anadditional monomer in the form of a mono- or dicarboxylic acid ester mayalso be incorporated in the formulation as a so-called “softeningcomonomer”. The incorporated carboxylic acid groups are then neutralizedby a basic metal ion salt, to form the ionomer. The metal cations of thebasic metal ion salt used for neutralization include Li⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺,Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Mg²⁺, with the Li⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn⁺,and Mg²⁺ being preferred. The basic metal ion salts include those of forexample formic acid, acetic acid, nitric acid, and carbonic acid,hydrogen carbonate salts, oxides, hydroxides, and alkoxides.

The first commercially available ionomer resins contained up to 16weight percent acrylic or methacrylic acid, although it was also wellknown at that time that, as a general rule, the hardness of these covermaterials could be increased with increasing acid content. Hence, inResearch Disclosure 29703, published in January 1989, DuPont disclosedionomers based on ethylene/acrylic acid or ethylene/methacrylic acidcontaining acid contents of greater than 15 weight percent. In this samedisclosure, DuPont also taught that such so called “high acid ionomers”had significantly improved stiffness and hardness and thus could beadvantageously used in golf ball construction, when used either singlyor in a blend with other ionomers.

More recently, high acid ionomers can be ionomer resins with acrylic ormethacrylic acid units present from 16 wt. % to about 35 wt. % in thepolymer. Generally, such a high acid ionomer will have a flexuralmodulus from about 50,000 psi to about 125,000 psi.

Ionomer resins further comprising a softening comonomer, present fromabout 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % in the polymer, have a flexural modulusfrom about 2,000 psi to about 10,000 psi, and are sometimes referred toas “soft” or “very low modulus” ionomers. Typical softening comonomersinclude n-butyl acrylate, iso-butyl acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate,methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate.

Today, there are a wide variety of commercially available ionomer resinsbased both on copolymers of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid orterpolymers of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylate, manyof which are be used as a golf ball component. The properties of theseionomer resins can vary widely due to variations in acid content,softening comonomer content, the degree of neutralization, and the typeof metal ion used in the neutralization. The full range commerciallyavailable typically includes ionomers of polymers of general formula,E/X/Y polymer, wherein E is ethylene, X is a C₃ to C₈ α,β ethylenicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic or methacrylic acid, and ispresent in an amount from about 2 to about 30 weight % of the E/X/Ycopolymer, and Y is a softening comonomer selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate, such as methylacrylate or methyl methacrylate, and wherein the alkyl groups have from1-8 carbon atoms, Y is in the range of 0 to about 50 weight % of theE/X/Y copolymer, and wherein the acid groups present in said ionomericpolymer are partially neutralized with a basic metal salt with metalions selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, or acombination of such cations.

The ionomer may also be a so-called bimodal ionomer as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,562,906 (the entire contents of which are herein incorporatedby reference). These ionomers are bimodal as they are prepared fromblends comprising polymers of different molecular weights. Specificallythey include bimodal polymer blend compositions comprising:

a) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or moreethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymersand/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers; said high molecular weight component being partiallyneutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ions selected from thegroup consisting of lithium, sodium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and amixture of any these; and

b) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising oneor more ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acidcopolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate,(meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; said low molecular weight componentbeing partially neutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ionsselected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and a mixtureof any these.

In addition to the unimodal and bimodal ionomers, also included are theso-called “modified ionomers” examples of which are described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,100,321, 6,329,458 and 6,616,552 and U.S. Patent PublicationUS 2003/0158312 A1, the entire contents of all of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

The modified unimodal ionomers may be prepared by mixing:

a) an ionomeric polymer comprising ethylene, from 5 to 25 weight percent(meth)acrylic acid, and from 0 to 40 weight percent of a (meth)acrylatemonomer, said ionomeric polymer neutralized with a basic metal salt withmetal ions selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium,potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, andany and all mixtures thereof; and

b) from about 5 to about 40 weight percent (based on the total weight ofsaid modified ionomeric polymer) of one or more fatty acids or metalsalts of said fatty acid, the metal salt having metal ions selected fromthe group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof;and the fatty acid preferably being stearic acid.

The modified bimodal ionomers, which are ionomers derived from theearlier described bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid polymers (asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,906, the entire contents of which areherein incorporated by reference), are prepared by mixing;

a) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or moreethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymersand/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers; said high molecular weight component being partiallyneutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ions selected from thegroup consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof;and

b) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising oneor more ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acidcopolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate,(meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; said low molecular weight componentbeing partially neutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ionsselected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and allmixtures thereof; and

c) from about 5 to about 40 weight percent (based on the total weight ofsaid modified ionomeric polymer) of one or more fatty acids or metalsalts of said fatty acid, the metal salt having metal ions selected fromthe group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof;and the fatty acid preferably being stearic acid.

The fatty or waxy acid salts utilized in the various modified ionomersare composed of a chain of alkyl groups containing from about 4 to 75carbon atoms (usually even numbered) and characterized by a —COOHterminal group. The fatty or waxy acids utilized to produce the fatty orwaxy acid salts modifiers may be saturated or unsaturated, and they maybe present in solid, semi-solid or liquid form.

Examples of suitable saturated fatty acids, i.e., fatty acids in whichthe carbon atoms of the alkyl chain are connected by single bonds,include but are not limited to stearic acid (CH₃(CH₂)₁₆COOH), palmiticacid (CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COOH), pelargonic acid (CH₃(CH₂)₇COOH) and lauric acid(CH₃(CH₂)₁₀COOH). Examples of suitable unsaturated fatty acids, i.e., afatty acid in which there are one or more double bonds between thecarbon atoms in the alkyl chain, include but are not limited to oleicacid (CH₃(CH₂)₇CH:CH(CH₂)₇COOH).

The source of the metal ions used to produce the metal salts of thefatty or waxy acid salts used in the various modified ionomers aregenerally various metal salts which provide the metal ions capable ofneutralizing, to various extents, the carboxylic acid groups of thefatty acids. These include the sulfate, carbonate, acetate andhydroxylate salts of zinc, barium, calcium and magnesium.

Since the fatty acid salts modifiers comprise various combinations offatty acids neutralized with a large number of different metal ions,several different types of fatty acid salts may be utilized in theinvention, including metal stearates, laureates, oleates, andpalmitates, with calcium, zinc, sodium, lithium, potassium and magnesiumstearate being preferred, and calcium and sodium stearate being mostpreferred.

The fatty or waxy acid or metal salt of said fatty or waxy acid ispresent in the modified ionomeric polymers in an amount of from about 5to about 40, preferably from about 7 to about 35, more preferably fromabout 8 to about 20 weight percent (based on the total weight of saidmodified ionomeric polymer).

As a result of the addition of the one or more metal salts of a fatty orwaxy acid, from about 40 to 100, preferably from about 50 to 100, morepreferably from about 70 to 100 percent of the acidic groups in thefinal modified ionomeric polymer composition are neutralized by a metalion.

An example of such a modified ionomer polymer is DuPont® HPF-1000available from E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. Inc.

Another preferred material to which the CE may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is a multi-componentblend composition (“MCBC”) prepared by blending together at least threematerials, identified as Components A, B, and C, and melt-processingthese components to form in-situ, a polymer blend compositionincorporating a pseudo-crosslinked polymer network. Such blends are morefully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,150 to H. J. Kim, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The first of these blend components (blend Component A) include blockcopolymers including di and triblock copolymers, incorporating a firstpolymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, and a second polymerblock having an olefinic and/or conjugated diene compound. Preferredaromatic vinyl compounds include styrene, α-methylstyrene, o-, m- orp-methylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 1,3-dimethylstyrene, vinylnaphthaleneand vinylanthracene. In particular, styrene and α-methylstyrene arepreferred. These aromatic vinyl compounds can each be used alone, or canbe used in combination of two or more kinds. The aromatic vinyl compoundis preferably contained in the block copolymer (b) in an amount of from5 to 75% by weight, and more preferably from 10 to 65% by weight. Theconjugated diene compound, that constitutes the polymer block B in theblock copolymer (b), includes, e.g., 1,3-butadiene, isoprene,2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene and 1,3-hexadiene. Inparticular, isoprene and 1,3-butadiene are preferred. These conjugateddiene compounds can each be used alone, or can be used in combination oftwo or more kinds.

Preferred block copolymers include the styrenic block copolymers such asstyrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene,(SEBS) and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS). Commercialexamples include SEPTON marketed by Kuraray Company of Kurashiki, Japan;TOPRENE by Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd and KRATON marketed by KratonPolymers.

Also included are functionalized styrenic block copolymers, includingthose where the block copolymer incorporates a first polymer blockhaving an aromatic vinyl compound, a second polymer block having aconjugated diene compound and a hydroxyl group located at a blockcopolymer, or its hydrogenation product. A preferred functionalizedstyrenic block copolymer is SEPTON HG-252.

The second blend component, Component B, is an acidic polymer thatincorporates at least one type of an acidic functional group. Examplesof such polymers suitable for use as include, but are not limited to,ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers and ethylene/(meth)acrylicacid/alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymers, or ethylene and/or propylenemaleic anhydride copolymers and terpolymers. Examples of such polymerswhich are commercially available include, but are not limited to, theEscor® 5000, 5001, 5020, 5050, 5070, 5100, 5110 and 5200 series ofethylene-acrylic acid copolymers sold by Exxon Mobil, the PRIMACOR®1321, 1410, 1410-XT, 1420, 1430, 2912, 3150, 3330, 3340, 3440, 3460,4311, 4608 and 5980 series of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers sold byThe Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. and the ethylene-methacrylicacid copolymers such as Nucrel 599, 699, 0903, 0910, 925, 960, 2806, and2906 commercially available from DuPont

Also included are the so called bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidpolymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,906, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference. These polymers comprise a firstcomponent comprising an ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈carboxylic acid high copolymer, particularly ethylene (meth)acrylic acidcopolymers and ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers, having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about80,000 to about 500,000, and a second component comprising anethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymers,particularly ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers having weightaverage molecular weight, Mw, of about 2,000 to about 30,000.

Component C is a base capable of neutralizing the acidic functionalgroup of Component B and typically is a base having a metal cation.These metals are from groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB, VA,VB, VIA, VIB, VIIB and VIIIB of the periodic table. Examples of thesemetals include lithium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, calcium,manganese, tungsten, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel, hafnium, copper,zinc, barium, zirconium, and tin. Suitable metal compounds for use as asource of Component C are, for example, metal salts, preferably metalhydroxides, metal oxides, metal carbonates, metal acetates, metalstearates, metal laureates, metal oleates, metal palmitates and thelike.

The MCBC composition preferably is prepared by mixing the abovematerials into each other thoroughly, either by using a dispersivemixing mechanism, a distributive mixing mechanism, or a combination ofthese. These mixing methods are well known in the manufacture of polymerblends. As a result of this mixing, the acidic functional group ofComponent B is dispersed evenly throughout the mixture in either theirneutralized or non-neutralized state. Most preferably, Components A andB are melt-mixed together without Component C, with or without thepremixing discussed above, to produce a melt-mixture of the twocomponents. Then, Component C separately is mixed into the blend ofComponents A and B. This mixture is melt-mixed to produce the reactionproduct. This two-step mixing can be performed in a single process, suchas, for example, an extrusion process using a proper barrel length orscrew configuration, along with a multiple feeding system.

Another preferred material to which the CE may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention are the polyalkenamerswhich may be prepared by ring opening metathesis polymerization of oneor more cycloalkenes in the presence of organometallic catalysts asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,492,245, and 3,804,803, the entirecontents of both of which are herein incorporated by reference. Examplesof suitable polyalkenamer rubbers are polypentenamer rubber,polyheptenamer rubber, polyoctenamer rubber, polydecenamer rubber andpolydodecenamer rubber. For further details concerning polyalkenamerrubber, see Rubber Chem. & Tech., Vol. 47, page 511-596, 1974, which isincorporated herein by reference.

The polyalkenamer rubbers used in the present invention have atrans-content of from about 40 to about 95, preferably of from about 45to about 90, and most preferably from about 50 to about 85 wt %, and acis-content of from about 5 to about 60, preferably of from about 10 toabout 55, and most preferably from about 15 to about 50 wt % with amelting point of greater than about 15, preferably greater than about 20more preferably greater than about 25° C. and exhibit excellent meltprocessability above their sharp melting temperatures and highmiscibility with various rubber additives as a major component withoutdeterioration of crystallinity which in turn facilitates injectionmolding. Thus, unlike synthetic rubbers typically used in golf ballpreparation, polyalkenamer-based compounds can be prepared which areinjection moldable. The polyalkenamer rubbers may also be blended withother polymers and an especially preferred blend is that of apolyalkenamer and a polyamide A more complete description of thepolyalkenamer rubbers and blends with polyamides is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 7,528,196 in the name of Hyun Kim et al., the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference. Polyoctenamer rubbers arecommercially available from Huls AG of Marl, Germany, and through itsdistributor in the U.S., Creanova Inc. of Somerset, N.J., and sold underthe trademark VESTENAMER®. Two grades of the VESTENAMER®trans-polyoctenamer are commercially available: VESTENAMER 8012designates a material having a trans-content of approximately 80% (and acis-content of 20%) with a melting point of approximately 54° C.; andVESTENAMER 6213 designates a material having a trans-content ofapproximately 60% (cis-content of 40%) with a melting point ofapproximately 30° C. Both of these polymers have a double bond at everyeighth carbon atom in the ring.

Another preferred material to which the CE may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is a blend of ahomopolyamide or copolyamide modified with a functional polymermodifier. Illustrative polyamides for use in the polyamide blendcompositions include those obtained by: (1) polycondensation of (a) adicarboxylic acid, such as oxalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid,terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylicacid, with (b) a diamine, such as ethylenediamine,tetramethylenediamine, pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine,decamethylenediamine, 1,4-cyclohexyldiamine or m-xylylenediamine; (2) aring-opening polymerization of cyclic lactam, such as ε-caprolactam orω-laurolactam; (3) polycondensation of an aminocarboxylic acid, such as6-aminocaproic acid, 9-aminononanoic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid or12-aminododecanoic acid; (4) copolymerization of a cyclic lactam with adicarboxylic acid and a diamine; or any combination of (1)-(4). Incertain examples, the dicarboxylic acid may be an aromatic dicarboxylicacid or a cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid. In certain examples, thediamine may be an aromatic diamine or a cycloaliphatic diamine. Specificexamples of suitable polyamides include polyamide 6; polyamide 11;polyamide 12; polyamide 4,6; polyamide 6,6; polyamide 6,9; polyamide6,10; polyamide 6,12; polyamide MXD6; PAl2,CX; PAl2, IT; PPA; PA6, IT;and PA6/PPE.

Another preferred material to which the CE may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is the family ofpolyurethanes or polyureas which are typically prepared by reacting adiisocyanate with a polyol (in the case of polyurethanes) or with apolyamine (in the case of a polyurea). Thermoplastic polyurethanes orpolyureas may consist solely of this initial mixture or may be furthercombined with a chain extender to vary properties such as hardness ofthe thermoplastic. Thermoset polyurethanes or polyureas typically areformed by the reaction of a diisocyanate and a polyol or polyaminerespectively, and an additional crosslinking agent to crosslink or curethe material to result in a thermoset.

In what is known as a one-shot process, the three reactants,diisocyanate, polyol or polyamine, and optionally a chain extender or acuring agent, are combined in one step. Alternatively, a two-stepprocess may occur in which the first step involves reacting thediisocyanate and the polyol (in the case of polyurethane) or thepolyamine (in the case of a polyurea) to form a so-called prepolymer, towhich can then be added either the chain extender or the curing agent.This procedure is known as the prepolymer process.

In addition, although depicted as discrete component packages as above,it is also possible to control the degree of crosslinking, and hence thedegree of thermoplastic or thermoset properties in a final composition,by varying the stoichiometry not only of the diisocyanate-to-chainextender or curing agent ratio, but also the initialdiisocyanate-to-polyol or polyamine ratio. Of course in the prepolymerprocess, the initial diisocyanate-to-polyol or polyamine ratio is fixedon selection of the required prepolymer, although mixtures ofprepolymers are also contemplated.

Any isocyanate available to one of ordinary skill in the art is suitablefor use according to the invention. Isocyanates for use with the presentinvention include, but are not limited to, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,aromatic aliphatic, aromatic, any derivatives thereof, and combinationsof these compounds having two or more isocyanate (NCO) groups permolecule. As used herein, aromatic aliphatic compounds should beunderstood as those containing an aromatic ring, wherein the isocyanategroup is not directly bonded to the ring. One example of an aromaticaliphatic compound is a tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (TMXDI). Theisocyanates may be organic polyisocyanate-terminated prepolymers, lowfree isocyanate prepolymer, and mixtures thereof. Theisocyanate-containing reactable component also may include anyisocyanate-functional monomer, dimer, trimer, or polymeric adductthereof, prepolymer, quasi-prepolymer, or mixtures thereof.Isocyanate-functional compounds may include monoisocyanates orpolyisocyanates that include any isocyanate functionality of two ormore.

Suitable isocyanate-containing components include diisocyanates havingthe generic structure: O═C═N—R—N═O, where R preferably is a cyclic,aromatic, or linear or branched hydrocarbon moiety containing from about1 to about 50 carbon atoms. The isocyanate also may contain one or morecyclic groups or one or more phenyl groups. When multiple cyclic oraromatic groups are present, linear and/or branched hydrocarbonscontaining from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms can be present asspacers between the cyclic or aromatic groups. In some cases, the cyclicor aromatic group(s) may be substituted at the 2-, 3-, and/or4-positions, or at the ortho-, meta-, and/or para-positions,respectively. Substituted groups may include, but are not limited to,halogens, primary, secondary, or tertiary hydrocarbon groups, or amixture thereof.

Examples of isocyanates that can be used with the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, substituted and isomeric mixturesincluding 2,2′-, 2,4′-, and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI);3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate (TODI); toluene diisocyanate(TDI); polymeric MDI; carbodiimide-modified liquid 4,4′-diphenylmethanediisocyanate; para-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI); meta-phenylenediisocyanate (MPDI); triphenyl methane-4,4′- and triphenylmethane-4,4″-triisocyanate; naphthylene-1,5-diisocyanate; 2,4′-, 4,4′-,and 2,2-biphenyl diisocyanate; polyphenylene polymethylenepolyisocyanate (PMDI) (also known as polymeric PMDI); mixtures of MDIand PMDI; mixtures of PMDI and TDI; ethylene diisocyanate;propylene-1,2-diisocyanate; trimethylene diisocyanate; butylenesdiisocyanate; bitolylene diisocyanate; tolidine diisocyanate;tetramethylene-1,2-diisocyanate; tetramethylene-1,3-diisocyanate;tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate; pentamethylene diisocyanate;1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI); octamethylene diisocyanate;decamethylene diisocyanate; 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate;2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate; dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate;dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate;cyclohexane-1,2-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate;cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate; diethylidene diisocyanate;methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate (HTDI); 2,4-methylcyclohexanediisocyanate; 2,6-methylcyclohexane diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexyldiisocyanate; 2,4′-dicyclohexyl diisocyanate; 1,3,5-cyclohexanetriisocyanate; isocyanatomethylcyclohexane isocyanate;1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane;isocyanatoethylcyclohexane isocyanate; bis(isocyanatomethyl)-cyclohexanediisocyanate; 4,4′-bis(isocyanatomethyl) dicyclohexane;2,4′-bis(isocyanatomethyl) dicyclohexane; isophorone diisocyanate(IPDI); dimeryl diisocyanate, dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate,1,10-decamethylene diisocyanate, cyclohexylene-1,2-diisocyanate,1,10-decamethylene diisocyanate, 1-chlorobenzene-2,4-diisocyanate,furfurylidene diisocyanate, 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diisocyanate,2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diisocyanate, dodecamethylenediisocyanate, 1,3-cyclopentane diisocyanate, 1,3-cyclohexanediisocyanate, 1,3-cyclobutane diisocyanate, 1,4-cyclohexanediisocyanate, 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate),4,4′-methylenebis-(phenyl isocyanate), 1-methyl-2,4-cyclohexanediisocyanate, 1-methyl-2,6-cyclohexane diisocyanate,1,3-bis(isocyanato-methyl)cyclohexane, 1,6-diisocyanato-2,2,4,4-,tetramethyl-hexane, 1,6-diisocyanato-2,4,4-tetra-trimethylhexane,trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate,3-isocyanato-methyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclo-hexyl isocyanate,1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane, cyclohexylisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate,1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane, m-phenylene diisocyanate,m-xylylene diisocyanate, m-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, p-phenylenediisocyanate, p,p′-biphenyl diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylenediisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate,3,3′-diphenyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-biphenylenediisocyanate, 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate,1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, 4-chloro-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate,1,5-tetrahydronaphthalene diisocyanate, metaxylene diisocyanate,2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 2,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate,2,4-chlorophenylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate,p,p′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate,2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,2-diphenylpropane-4,4′-diisocyanate,4,4′-toluidine diisocyanate, dianidine diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenyl etherdiisocyanate, 1,3-xylylene diisocyanate, 1,4-naphthylene diisocyanate,azobenzene-4,4′-diisocyanate, diphenyl sulfone-4,4′-diisocyanate,triphenylmethane 4,4′,4″-triisocyanate, isocyanatoethyl methacrylate,3-isopropenyl α,α-dimethylbenzyl-isocyanate, dichlorohexamethylenediisocyanate, ω,ω′-diisocyanato-1,4-diethylbenzene, polymethylenepolyphenylene polyisocyanate, isocyanurate modified compounds, andcarbodiimide modified compounds, as well as biuret modified compounds ofthe above polyisocyanates.

These isocyanates may be used either alone or in combination. Thesecombination isocyanates include triisocyanates, such as biuret ofhexamethylene diisocyanate and triphenylmethane triisocyanates, andpolyisocyanates, such as polymeric diphenylmethanediisocyanate.triisocyanate of HDI; triisocyanate of2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate (TMDI); 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediisocyanate (H₁₂MDI); 2,4-hexahydrotoluene diisocyanate;2,6-hexahydrotoluene diisocyanate; 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-phenylenediisocyanate; aromatic aliphatic isocyanate, such as 1,2-, 1,3-, and1,4-xylene diisocyanate; meta-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (m-TMXDI);para-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (p-TMXDI); trimerized isocyanurateof any polyisocyanate, such as isocyanurate of toluene diisocyanate,trimer of diphenylmethane diisocyanate, trimer of tetramethylxylenediisocyanate, isocyanurate of hexamethylene diisocyanate, and mixturesthereof, dimerized uretdione of any polyisocyanate, such as uretdione oftoluene diisocyanate, uretdione of hexamethylene diisocyanate, andmixtures thereof; modified polyisocyanate derived from the aboveisocyanates and polyisocyanates; and mixtures thereof.

Any polyol now known or hereafter developed is suitable for useaccording to the invention. Polyols suitable for use in the presentinvention include, but are not limited to, polyester polyols, polyetherpolyols, polycarbonate polyols and polydiene polyols such aspolybutadiene polyols. Suitable polyether polyols includepolytetramethylene ether glycol; poly(oxypropylene) glycol; andpolybutadiene glycol. Suitable polyester polyols include polyethyleneadipate glycol; polyethylene propylene adipate glycol; and polybutyleneadipate glycol. Suitable polylactone polyols include diethylene glycolinitiated caprolactone; 1,4-butanediol initiated caprolactone;trimethylol propane initiated caprolactone; and neopentyl glycolinitiated caprolactone. The preferred polyols are polytetramethyleneether glycol; polyethylene adipate glycol; polybutylene adipate glycol;and diethylene glycol initiated caprolactone. The most preferred polyolis polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). Like urethane elastomersmade with other ether polyols, urethane elastomers made with PTMEGexhibit good hydrolytic stability and good tensile strength. Hydrolyticstability allows for a golf ball HACE product that is substantiallyimpervious to the effects of moisture. Thus, a golf ball made with apolyurethane system that has an ether glycol for the polyol componentwill have a longer shelf life, i.e., retains physical properties underprolonged humid conditions.

Any polyamine available to one of ordinary skill in the polyurethane artis suitable for use according to the invention. Polyamines suitable foruse in the compositions of the present invention include, but are notlimited to amine-terminated compounds typically are selected fromamine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers,amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycaprolactones,amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polyamides, andmixtures thereof. The amine-terminated compound may be a polyether amineselected from polytetramethylene ether diamines, polyoxypropylenediamines, poly(ethylene oxide capped oxypropylene) ether diamines,triethyleneglycoldiamines, propylene oxide-based triamines,trimethylolpropane-based triamines, glycerin-based triamines, andmixtures thereof.

The diisocyanate and polyol or polyamine components may be combined toform a prepolymer prior to reaction with a chain extender or curingagent. Any such prepolymer combination is suitable for use in thepresent invention.

One preferred prepolymer is a toluene diisocyanate prepolymer withpolypropylene glycol. Such polypropylene glycol terminated toluenediisocyanate prepolymers are available from Uniroyal Chemical Company ofMiddlebury, Conn., under the trade name ADIPRENE® LFG963A and LFG640D.Most preferred prepolymers are the polytetramethylene ether glycolterminated toluene diisocyanate prepolymers including those availablefrom Uniroyal Chemical Company of Middlebury, Conn., under the tradename ADIPRENE® LF930A, LF950A, LF601D, and LF751D.

In one embodiment, the number of free NCO groups in the urethane or ureaprepolymer may be less than about 14 percent. Preferably the urethane orurea prepolymer has from about 3 percent to about 11 percent, morepreferably from about 4 to about 9.5 percent, and even more preferablyfrom about 3 percent to about 9 percent, free NCO on an equivalentweight basis.

Polyol chain extenders or curing agents may be primary, secondary, ortertiary polyols. Non-limiting examples of monomers of these polyolsinclude: trimethylolpropane (TMP), ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol,1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, propylene glycol,dipropylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol,1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 2,4-hexanediol,2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, cyclohexanediol, and2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol.

Diamines and other suitable polyamines may be added to the compositionsof the present invention to function as chain extenders or curingagents. These include primary, secondary and tertiary amines having twoor more amines as functional groups. Exemplary diamines includealiphatic diamines, such as tetramethylenediamine,pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine; alicyclic diamines, such as3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diamino-dicyclohexyl methane; or aromatic diamines,such asdiethyl-2,4-toluenediamine-4,4″-methylenebis-(3-chloro,2,6-diethyl)-aniline(available from Air Products and Chemicals Inc., of Allentown, Pa.,under the trade name LONZACURE®), 3,3′-dichlorobenzidene;3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl methane (MOCA);N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine,3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine; N,N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane; trimethylene-glycol-di-p-aminobenzoate;polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate, 4,4′-methylenebis-2-chloroaniline, 2,2′,3,3′-tetrachloro-4,4′-diamino-phenyl methane,p,p′-methylenedianiline, p-phenylenediamine or 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl; and2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl) phenol.

Depending on their chemical structure, curing agents may be slow- orfast-reacting polyamines or polyols. As described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,793,864, 6,719,646 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0201133 A1,(the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference), slow-reacting polyamines are diamines having amine groupsthat are sterically and/or electronically hindered by electronwithdrawing groups or bulky groups situated proximate to the aminereaction sites. The spacing of the amine reaction sites will also affectthe reactivity speed of the polyamines.

Suitable curatives for use in the present invention are selected fromthe slow-reacting polyamine group include, but are not limited to,3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine; N,N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane; trimethylene-glycol-di-p-aminobenzoate;polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate, and mixtures thereof. Ofthese, 3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine and3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine are isomers and are sold under thetrade name ETHACURE® 300 by Ethyl Corporation. Trimethyleneglycol-di-p-aminobenzoate is sold under the trade name POLACURE 740M andpolytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoates are sold under the tradename POLAMINES by Polaroid Corporation. N,N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane is sold under the trade name UNILINK® by UOP.

Also included as a curing agent for use in the polyurethane or polyureacompositions used in the present invention are the family ofdicyandiamides as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,879,968 filed by Kim etal., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In addition to discrete thermoplastic or thermoset materials, it also ispossible to modify thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea composition byintroducing materials in the composition that undergo subsequent curingafter molding the thermoplastic to provide properties similar to thoseof a thermoset. For example, Kim in U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,337, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses athermoplastic urethane or urea composition optionally comprising chainextenders and further comprising a peroxide or peroxide mixture, whichcan then undergo post curing to result in a thermoset.

Also, Kim et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,924, the entire contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a thermoplasticurethane or urea composition, optionally also comprising chainextenders, that are prepared from a diisocyanate and a modified orblocked diisocyanate which unblocks and induces further cross linkingpost extrusion. The modified isocyanate preferably is selected from thegroup consisting of: isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)-based uretdione-typecrosslinker; a combination of a uretdione adduct of IPDI and a partiallye-caprolactam-modified IPDI; a combination of isocyanate adductsmodified by e-caprolactam and a carboxylic acid functional group; acaprolactam-modified Desmodur diisocyanate; a Desmodur diisocyanatehaving a 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole modified isocyanate; or mixtures ofthese.

Finally, Kim et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,985 B2, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses thermoplasticurethane or urea compositions further comprising a reaction HACE productof a nitroso compound and a diisocyanate or a polyisocyanate. Thenitroso reaction HACE product has a characteristic temperature at whichit decomposes to regenerate the nitroso compound and diisocyanate orpolyisocyanate. Thus, by judicious choice of the post-processingtemperature, further crosslinking can be induced in the originallythermoplastic composition to provide thermoset-like properties.

The HACE'S and any other polymer component of the golf balls of thepresent invention whether used in blends with the HACE'S or used as aseparate component of the core, cover layer or intermediate layer of thecurrent golf balls, may be further modified by the addition of an impactmodifier, which can include copolymers or terpolymers having a glycidylgroup, hydroxyl group, maleic anhydride group or carboxylic group,collectively referred to as functionalized polymers. These copolymersand terpolymers may comprise an α-olefin. Examples of suitable α-olefinsinclude ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene,1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-petene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene-,1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicocene,1-dococene, 1-tetracocene, 1-hexacocene, 1-octacocene, and1-triacontene. One or more of these α-olefins may be used.

Examples of suitable glycidyl groups in copolymers or terpolymers in thepolymeric modifier include esters and ethers of aliphatic glycidyl, suchas allylglycidylether, vinylglycidylether, glycidyl maleate anditaconatem glycidyl acrylate and methacrylate, and also alicyclicglycidyl esters and ethers, such as 2-cyclohexene-1-glycidylether,cyclohexene-4,5 diglyxidylcarboxylate, cyclohexene-4-glycidylcarobxylate, 5-norboenene-2-methyl-2-glycidyl carboxylate, andendocis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-diglycidyl dicarboxylate. Thesepolymers having a glycidyl group may comprise other monomers, such asesters of unsaturated carboxylic acid, for example, alkyl(meth)acrylatesor vinyl esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids. Polymers having aglycidyl group can be obtained by copolymerization or graftpolymerization with homopolymers or copolymers.

Examples of suitable terpolymers having a glycidyl group include LOTADERAX8900 and AX8920, marketed by Atofina Chemicals, ELVALOY marketed byE.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., and REXPEARL marketed by NipponPetrochemicals Co., Ltd. Additional examples of copolymers comprisingepoxy monomers and which are suitable for use within the scope of thepresent invention include styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers inwhich the polybutadiene block contains epoxy group, andstyrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers in which the polyisopreneblock contains epoxy. Commercially available examples of these epoxyfunctional copolymers include ESBS A1005, ESBS A1010, ESBS A1020, ESBSAT018, and ESBS AT019, marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Examples of polymers or terpolymers incorporating a maleic anhydridegroup suitable for use within the scope of the present invention includemaleic anhydride-modified ethylene-propylene copolymers, maleicanhydride-modified ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, maleicanhydride-modified polyethylenes, maleic anhydride-modifiedpolypropylenes, ethylene-ethylacrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymers, andmaleic anhydride-indene-styrene-cumarone polymers. Examples ofcommercially available copolymers incorporating maleic anhydrideinclude: BONDINE, marketed by Sumitomo Chemical Co., such as BONDINEAX8390, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer having acombined ethylene acrylate and maleic anhydride content of 32% byweight, and BONDINE TX TX8030, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-maleicanhydride terpolymer having a combined ethylene acrylate and maleicanhydride content of 15% by weight and a maleic anhydride content of 1%to 4% by weight; maleic anhydride-containing LOTADER 3200, 3210, 6200,8200, 3300, 3400, 3410, 7500, 5500, 4720, and 4700, marketed by AtofinaChemicals; EXXELOR VA1803, a maleic anyhydride-modifiedethylene-propylene copolymer having a maleic anyhydride content of 0.7%by weight, marketed by Exxon Chemical Co.; and KRATON FG 1901X, a maleicanhydride functionalized triblock copolymer having polystyrene endblocksand poly(ethylene/butylene) midblocks, marketed by Shell Chemical.Preferably the functional polymer component is a maleic anhydridegrafted polymers preferably maleic anhydride grafted polyolefins (forexample, Exxellor VA1803).

The various polymer compositions used to prepare the golf balls of thepresent invention may also be further modified by addition of amonomeric aliphatic and/or aromatic amide as described in copending USPublication No. 2007-0100085 A1 filed on Nov. 1, 2006 in the name ofHyun Kim et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

Another particularly well-suited additive for use in the various polymercompositions used to prepare the golf balls of the present inventionincludes compounds having the general formula:

(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)—OR_(y))_(m),

where R is hydrogen, or a C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromaticsystems; R′ is a bridging group comprising one or more C₁-C₂₀ straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, or substituted straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, or aromatic group, oran oligomer of up to 12 repeating units including, but not limited to,polypeptides derived from an amino acid sequence of up to 12 aminoacids; and X is C or S with the proviso that when X=C, n=1 and y=1 andwhen X=S, n=2 and y=1. Also, m=1-3. These materials are more fullydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,767,759 filed on Jul. 14, 2005, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Preferably the material is selected from the group consisting of4,4′-methylene-bis-(cyclohexylamine)carbamate (commercially availablefrom R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Norwalk Conn. under the tradename Diak® 4),11-aminoundecanoicacid, 12-aminododecanoic acid, epsilon-caprolactam;omega-caprolactam, and any and all combinations thereof.

Golf balls within the scope of the present invention also can include,in suitable amounts, one or more additional ingredients generallyemployed in golf ball compositions. Agents provided to achieve specificfunctions, such as additives and stabilizers, can be present. Exemplarysuitable ingredients include antioxidants, colorants, dispersants, moldreleasing agents, processing aids, plasticizers, pigments, U.V.absorbers, optical brighteners, or any other additives generallyemployed in plastics formulation or the preparation of golf balls andany and all combinations thereof. Although not required, UV stabilizers,or photo stabilizers such as substituted hydroxphenyl benzotriazoles maybe utilized in the present invention to enhance the UV stability of thefinal compositions. An example of a commercially available UV stabilizeris the stabilizer sold by Ciba Geigy Corporation under the tradenameTINUVIN.

The various polymeric compositions used to prepare the golf balls of thepresent invention also can incorporate one or more fillers. Such fillersare typically in a finely divided form, for example, in a size generallyless than about 20 mesh, preferably less than about 100 mesh U.S.standard size, except for fibers and flock, which are generallyelongated. Filler particle size will depend upon desired effect, cost,ease of addition, and dusting considerations. The appropriate amounts offiller required will vary depending on the application but typically canbe readily determined without undue experimentation.

The filler preferably is selected from the group consisting ofprecipitated hydrated silica, limestone, clay, talc, asbestos, barytes,glass fibers, aramid fibers, mica, calcium metasilicate, barium sulfate,zinc sulfide, lithopone, silicates, silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth,carbonates such as calcium or magnesium or barium carbonate, sulfatessuch as calcium or magnesium or barium sulfate, metals, includingtungsten, steel, copper, cobalt or iron, metal alloys, tungsten carbide,metal oxides, metal stearates, and other particulate carbonaceousmaterials, and any and all combinations thereof. Preferred examples offillers include metal oxides, such as zinc oxide and magnesium oxide. Inanother preferred aspect the filler comprises a continuous ornon-continuous fiber. In another preferred aspect the filler comprisesone or more so called nanofillers, as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,794,447 and copending U.S. Publication No. US2004-0092336 filed onSep. 24, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,533 filed on Aug. 25, 2004, theentire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Inorganic nanofiller material generally is made of clay, such ashydrotalcite, phyllosilicate, saponite, hectorite, beidellite,stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, mica, montmorillonite,micafluoride, or octosilicate. To facilitate incorporation of thenanofiller material into a polymer material, either in preparingnanocomposite materials or in preparing polymer-based golf ballcompositions, the clay particles generally are coated or treated by asuitable compatibilizing agent. The compatibilizing agent allows forsuperior linkage between the inorganic and organic material, and it alsocan account for the hydrophilic nature of the inorganic nanofillermaterial and the possibly hydrophobic nature of the polymer.Compatibilizing agents may exhibit a variety of different structuresdepending upon the nature of both the inorganic nanofiller material andthe target matrix polymer. Non-limiting examples include hydroxy-,thiol-, amino-, epoxy-, carboxylic acid-, ester-, amide-, andsiloxy-group containing compounds, oligomers or polymers. The nanofillermaterials can be incorporated into the polymer either by dispersion intothe particular monomer or oligomer prior to polymerization, or by meltcompounding of the particles into the matrix polymer. Examples ofcommercial nanofillers are various Cloisite grades including 10A, 15A,20A, 25A, 30B, and NA+ of Southern Clay Products (Gonzales, Tex.) andthe Nanomer grades including 1.24TL and C.30EVA of Nanocor, Inc.(Arlington Heights, Ill.).

Nanofillers when added into a matrix polymer can be mixed in three ways.In one type of mixing there is dispersion of the aggregate structureswithin the matrix polymer, but on mixing no interaction of the matrixpolymer with the aggregate platelet structure occurs, and thus thestacked platelet structure is essentially maintained. As used herein,this type of mixing is defined as “undispersed”.

However, if the nanofiller material is selected correctly, the matrixpolymer chains can penetrate into the aggregates and separate theplatelets, and thus when viewed by transmission electron microscopy orx-ray diffraction, the aggregates of platelets are expanded. At thispoint the nanofiller is said to be substantially evenly dispersed withinand reacted into the structure of the matrix polymer. This level ofexpansion can occur to differing degrees. If small amounts of the matrixpolymer are layered between the individual platelets then, as usedherein, this type of mixing is known as “intercalation”.

In some circumstances, further penetration of the matrix polymer chainsinto the aggregate structure separates the platelets, and leads to acomplete disruption of the platelet's stacked structure in theaggregate. Thus, when viewed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM),the individual platelets are thoroughly mixed throughout the matrixpolymer. As used herein, this type of mixing is known as “exfoliated”.An exfoliated nanofiller has the platelets fully dispersed throughoutthe polymer matrix; the platelets may be dispersed unevenly butpreferably are dispersed evenly.

While not wishing to be limited to any theory, one possible explanationof the differing degrees of dispersion of such nanofillers within thematrix polymer structure is the effect of the compatibilizer surfacecoating on the interaction between the nanofiller platelet structure andthe matrix polymer. By careful selection of the nanofiller it ispossible to vary the penetration of the matrix polymer into the plateletstructure of the nanofiller on mixing. Thus, the degree of interactionand intrusion of the polymer matrix into the nanofiller controls theseparation and dispersion of the individual platelets of the nanofillerwithin the polymer matrix. This interaction of the polymer matrix andthe platelet structure of the nanofiller is defined herein as thenanofiller “reacting into the structure of the polymer” and thesubsequent dispersion of the platelets within the polymer matrix isdefined herein as the nanofiller “being substantially evenly dispersed”within the structure of the polymer matrix.

If no compatibilizer is present on the surface of a filler such as aclay, or if the coating of the clay is attempted after its addition tothe polymer matrix, then the penetration of the matrix polymer into thenanofiller is much less efficient, very little separation and nodispersion of the individual clay platelets occurs within the matrixpolymer.

Physical properties of the polymer will change with the addition ofnanofiller. The physical properties of the polymer are expected toimprove even more as the nanofiller is dispersed into the polymer matrixto form a nanocomposite.

Materials incorporating nanofiller materials can provide these propertyimprovements at much lower densities than those incorporatingconventional fillers. For example, a nylon-6 nanocomposite materialmanufactured by RTP Corporation of Wichita, Kans., uses a 3% to 5% clayloading and has a tensile strength of 11,800 psi and a specific gravityof 1.14, while a conventional 30% mineral-filled material has a tensilestrength of 8,000 psi and a specific gravity of 1.36. Usingnanocomposite materials with lower inorganic materials loadings thanconventional fillers provides the same properties, and this allowsproducts comprising nanocomposite fillers to be lighter than those withconventional fillers, while maintaining those same properties.

Nanocomposite materials are materials incorporating up to about 20%, orfrom about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 15%,and most preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% of nanofiller reactedinto and substantially dispersed through intercalation or exfoliationinto the structure of an organic material, such as a polymer, to providestrength, temperature resistance, and other property improvements to theresulting composite. Descriptions of particular nanocomposite materialsand their manufacture can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,553 toEllsworth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,776 to Maxfield et al., and U.S. Pat. No.4,894,411 to Okada et al. Examples of nanocomposite materials currentlymarketed include M1030D, manufactured by Unitika Limited, of Osaka,Japan, and 1015C2, manufactured by UBE America of New York, N.Y.

When nanocomposites are blended with other polymer systems, thenanocomposite may be considered a type of nanofiller concentrate.However, a nanofiller concentrate may be more generally a polymer intowhich nanofiller is mixed; a nanofiller concentrate does not requirethat the nanofiller has reacted and/or dispersed evenly into the carrierpolymer.

The nanofiller material is added in an amount up to about 20 wt %, fromabout 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 15%, andmost preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight (based on thefinal weight of the polymer matrix material) of nanofiller reacted intoand substantially dispersed through intercalation or exfoliation intothe structure of the polymer matrix.

In an especially preferred aspect, a nanofiller additive component inthe golf ball of the present invention is surface modified with acompatibilizing agent comprising the earlier described compounds havingthe general formula:

(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)_(n)OR_(y))_(m),

Preferably the material is selected from the group consisting of4,4′-methylene-bis-(cyclohexylamine)carbamate (commercially availablefrom R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Norwalk Conn. under the tradename Diak® 4),11-aminoundecanoicacid, 12-aminododecanoic acid, epsilon-caprolactam;omega-caprolactam, and any and all combinations thereof.

A most preferred aspect would be a filler comprising a nanofiller claymaterial surface modified with an amino acid including12-aminododecanoic acid. Such fillers are available from Nanonocor Co.under the tradename Nanomer 1.24TL.

The filler can be blended in variable effective amounts, such as amountsof greater than 0 to at least about 80 parts, and more typically fromabout 10 parts to about 80 parts, by weight per 100 parts by weight ofthe base rubber. If desired, the rubber composition can additionallycontain effective amounts of a plasticizer, an antioxidant, and anyother additives generally used to make golf balls.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may include thetraditional rubber components used in golf ball applications including,both natural and synthetic rubbers, such as cis-1,4-polybutadiene,trans-1,4-polybutadiene, 1,2-polybutadiene, cis-polyisoprene,trans-polyisoprene, polychloroprene, polybutylene, styrene-butadienerubber, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer and partially andfully hydrogenated equivalents, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymerand partially and fully hydrogenated equivalents, nitrile rubber,silicone rubber, and polyurethane, as well as mixtures of these.Polybutadiene rubbers, especially 1,4-polybutadiene rubbers containingat least 40 mol %, and more preferably 80 to 100 mol % of cis-1,4 bonds,are preferred because of their high rebound resilience, moldability, andhigh strength after vulcanization. The polybutadiene component may besynthesized by using rare earth-based catalysts, nickel-based catalysts,or cobalt-based catalysts, conventionally used in this field.Polybutadiene obtained by using lanthanum rare earth-based catalystsusually employ a combination of a lanthanum rare earth (atomic number of57 to 71)-compound, but particularly preferred is a neodymium compound.

The 1,4-polybutadiene rubbers have a molecular weight distribution(Mw/Mn) of from about 1.2 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.7 toabout 3.7, even more preferably from about 2.0 to about 3.5, mostpreferably from about 2.2 to about 3.2. The polybutadiene rubbers have aMooney viscosity (ML₁₊₄ (100° C.)) of from about 20 to about 80,preferably from about 30 to about 70, even more preferably from about 30to about 60, most preferably from about 35 to about 50. The term “Mooneyviscosity” used herein refers in each case to an industrial index ofviscosity as measured with a Mooney viscometer, which is a type ofrotary plastometer (see JIS K6300). This value is represented by thesymbol ML₁₊₄ (100° C.), wherein “M” stands for Mooney viscosity, “L”stands for large rotor (L-type), “1+4” stands for a pre-heating time of1 minute and a rotor rotation time of 4 minutes, and “100° C.” indicatesthat measurement was carried out at a temperature of 100° C. As readilyappreciated by one skilled in the art, blends of polybutadiene rubbersmay also be utilized in the golf balls of the present invention, suchblends may be prepared with any mixture of rare earth-based catalysts,nickel-based catalysts, or cobalt-based catalysts derived materials, andfrom materials having different molecular weights, molecular weightdistributions and Mooney viscosity.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may also include1,2-polybutadienes having differing tacticity, all of which are suitableas unsaturated polymers for use in the presently disclosed compositions,are atactic 1,2-polybutadiene, isotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, andsyndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. Syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene havingcrystallinity suitable for use as an unsaturated polymer in thepresently disclosed compositions are polymerized from a 1,2-addition ofbutadiene. The presently disclosed golf balls may include syndiotactic1,2-polybutadiene having crystallinity and greater than about 70% of1,2-bonds, more preferably greater than about 80% of 1,2-bonds, and mostpreferably greater than about 90% of 1,2-bonds.

Also, the 1,2-polybutadiene may have a mean molecular weight betweenabout 10,000 and about 350,000, more preferably between about 50,000 andabout 300,000, more preferably between about 80,000 and about 200,000,and most preferably between about 10,000 and about 150,000. Examples ofsuitable syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadienes having crystallinity suitablefor use in golf balls are sold under the trade names RB810, RB820, andRB830 by JSR Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may also includethe polyalkenamer rubbers as previously described herein and disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,528,196 in the name of Hyun Kim et al., the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The cores of thegolf balls of the present invention may also include the various fillersas previously described herein. Especially preferred fillers include theone or more so called nanofillers, as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,794,447 and copending U.S. Publication No. US2004-0092336 filed onSep. 24, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,533 filed on Aug. 25, 2004, theentire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

When synthetic rubbers such as the aforementioned polybutadienes orpolyalkenamers and their blends are used in the golf balls of thepresent invention they may contain further materials typically oftenused in rubber formulations including crosslinking agents,co-crosslinking agents, peptizers and accelerators, all of which methodsand amounts are described above for crosslinking the carboxylatedelastomers.

Typically the golf ball core is made by mixing together the unsaturatedpolymer, cross-linking agents, and other additives with or withoutmelting them. Dry blending equipment, such as a tumbler mixer, Vblender, ribbon blender, or two-roll mill, can be used to mix thecompositions. The golf ball core compositions can also be mixed using amill, internal mixer such as a Banbury or Farrel continuous mixer,extruder or combinations of these, with or without application ofthermal energy to produce melting. The various core components can bemixed together with the cross-linking agents, or each additive can beadded in an appropriate sequence to the milled unsaturated polymer. Inanother method of manufacture the cross-linking agents and othercomponents can be added to the unsaturated polymer as part of aconcentrate using dry blending, roll milling, or melt mixing. Ifradiation is a cross-linking agent, then the mixture comprising theunsaturated polymer and other additives can be irradiated followingmixing, during forming into a part such as the core of a ball, or afterforming.

The resulting mixture can be subjected to, for example, a compression orinjection molding process, to obtain solid spheres for the core. Thepolymer mixture is subjected to a molding cycle in which heat andpressure are applied while the mixture is confined within a mold. Thecavity shape depends on the portion of the golf ball being formed. Thecompression and heat liberates free radicals by decomposing one or moreperoxides, which initiate cross-linking. The temperature and duration ofthe molding cycle are selected based upon the type of peroxide andpeptizer selected. The molding cycle may have a single step of moldingthe mixture at a single temperature for fixed time duration.

For example, a preferred mode of preparation for the cores used in thepresent invention is to first mix the core ingredients on a two-rollmill, to form slugs of approximately 30-40 g, and then compression-moldin a single step at a temperature between 150 to 180° C., for a timeduration between 5 and 12 minutes.

The various core components may also be combined to form a golf ball byan injection molding process, which is also well known to one ofordinary skill in the art. The curing time depends on the variousmaterials selected, and those of ordinary skill in the art will bereadily able to adjust the curing time upward or downward based on theparticular materials used and the discussion herein.

The various formulations for the intermediate layer and/or outer coverlayer may be produced by any generally known method, such as dryblending, melt-mixing, or combination of those, to achieve a gooddispersive mixing, distributive mixing, or both. Examples of melt-mixingare roll-mill; internal mixer, such as injection molding, single-screwextruder, twin-screw extruder; or any combination of those The feed tothe injection mold may be blended manually or mechanically prior to theaddition to the injection molder feed hopper. Finished golf balls may beprepared by initially positioning the solid, preformed core in aninjection-molding cavity, followed by uniform injection of theintermediate layer and/or cover layer composition sequentially over thecore. The cover formulations can be injection molded around the cores toproduce golf balls of the required diameter.

Alternatively, the intermediate layers and/or outer cover layer may alsobe formed around the core by first forming half shells by injectionmolding followed by compression molding the half shells about the coreto form the final ball.

The intermediate layers and/or outer cover layer may also be formedaround the cores using compression molding. Cover materials forcompression molding may also be extruded or blended resins or castableresins such as thermoset polyurethane or thermoset polyurea.

The HACE compositions or HACE containing blend compositions used in thegolf balls of the present invention may comprise from about 2 to about100, preferably from about 5 to about 95 and more preferably from about10 to about 90 and most preferably from about 20 to about 80 wt % of theHACE and from about 0 to about 98, preferably from about 5 to about 95and more preferably from about 10 to about 90 and most preferably fromabout 20 to about 80 wt % of one or more additional polymer components(all wt % based on the total weight of HACE and additional polymercomponent(s)).

The HACE may be used in solid form in the form of a powder, or pellet,and the type of HACE is selected based on the properties of the polymercomponent(s) to which it is to be added.

The additional polymer blend component may be a block copolymer, anacidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modifiedunimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, apolyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic orthermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), theMCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof.

The HACE-containing blend has a Melt Flow Index (MFI) of from about 1 toabout 80, preferably of from about 4 to about 60, more preferably offrom about 5 to about 50 and most preferably of from about 10 to about30 g/10 min.

The HACE-containing blend has a material hardness of from about 20 toabout 90, preferably of from about 25 to about 85 more preferably offrom about 30 to about 80 and most preferably of from about 35 to about70 Shore D.

The HACE-containing blend has a flex modulus of from about 1 to about120, preferably of from about 2 to about 100, more preferably of fromabout 3 to about 90 and most preferably of from about 4 to about 70 kpsi

In one preferred aspect, the golf ball is a two-piece ball with the HACEblend composition used in the outer cover layer.

In one preferred aspect, the golf ball is a multi-piece ball wherein theouter cover comprises the HACE blend compositions described herein.

In one preferred aspect, the golf ball is a multi-piece ball having atleast one intermediate layers which comprises the HACE blendcompositions described herein.

In one aspect the HACE used in the present invention may be crosslinkedby reaction with one or more basic metal salts selected from the groupconsisting of metal formates, metal acetates, metal nitrates, metalcarbonates, metal hydrogen carbonates, metal oxides, metal hydroxides,metal alkoxides, metal stearates and mixtures thereof, with thecorresponding metal counterions selected from the group consisting oflithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zincor aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof. This crosslinkingmechanism is known as “metal ion clustering”. When used in a blendcomposition the HACE may be crosslinked by this crosslinking packageeither before or after it incorporation into the blend composition or itmay be crosslinked in-situ when mixing the individual components of theblend composition.

In one aspect the HACE used in the present invention may be crosslinkedusing a composition using a composition comprising one or moreperoxides, a zinc or magnesium salt of an unsaturated fatty acids having3 to 8 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, maleic acid, stearic acid, fumaric acid, palmitic acidand mixtures thereof; and a peptizer selected from the group consistingof an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt of an organic sulfurcompound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, and any andall combinations thereof. This mechanism is known as free radicalcrosslinking. When used in a blend composition the HACE may becrosslinked by this crosslinking package after its incorporation intothe blend composition

In one aspect the HACE used in the present invention may be crosslinkedusing a mixture of a metal ion clustering crosslinking package and afree radical crosslinking package.

In another aspect the golf ball is a three-piece ball with the HACEblend composition used in the intermediate or mantle layer and the outercover layer comprises a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodalionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modifiedbimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplastic orthermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or amulticomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) ablock copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one ormore basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greaterthan or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B),and any and all combinations thereof.

In another aspect the golf ball is a four-piece ball with the HACE blendcomposition used in one or more of the inner and outer intermediatelayer and the outer cover layer comprises a block copolymer, an acidicpolymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodalionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, athermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic or thermosetpolyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBCcomprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers;and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralizeat greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups ofComponent (B), and any and all combinations thereof.

In another aspect the golf ball is a five-piece ball with the HACE blendcomposition used in one or more of the intermediate or mantle layers andthe outer cover layer comprises a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, aunimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, amodified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplasticor thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or amulticomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) ablock copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one ormore basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greaterthan or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B),and any and all combinations thereof.

The golf ball of the present invention may comprise from 0 to 6,preferably from 0 to 5, more preferably from about 1 to about 4, mostpreferably from about 1 to about 3 intermediate layer(s).

The one or more intermediate layers of the golf balls may have athickness of from about 0.010 to about 0.400, preferably from about0.020 to about 0.200 and most preferably from about 0.030 to about 0.100inches.

The one or more intermediate layers of the golf balls may also have aShore D hardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 25,preferably greater than about 40, and most preferably greater than about50 Shore D units.

The outer cover layer of the balls may have a thickness of from about0.015 to about 0.100, preferably from about 0.020 to about 0.080, morepreferably from about 0.025 to about 0.060 inches.

The outer cover layer the balls may also have a Shore D hardness asmeasured on the ball of from about 30 to about 75, preferably from 38 toabout 68 and most preferably from about 40 to about 65.

The core of the balls also may have a PGA compression of less than about140, preferably less than about 100, and most preferably less than about90.

The various core layers (including the center) if present may eachexhibit a different hardness. The difference between the center hardnessand that of the next adjacent layer, as well as the difference inhardness between the various core layers may be greater than 2,preferably greater than 5, most preferably greater than 10 units ofShore D.

In one preferred aspect, the hardness of the center and each sequentiallayer increases progressively outwards from the center to outer corelayer.

In another preferred aspect, the hardness of the center and eachsequential layer decreases progressively inwards from the outer corelayer to the center.

The core of the balls may have a diameter of from about 0.5 to about1.62, preferably from about 0.7 to about 1.60, more preferably fromabout 0.9 to about 1.58, yet more preferably from about 1.20 to about1.54, and even more preferably from about 1.40 to about 1.50 in.

More specifically, for a three piece golf ball consisting of a core, amantle, and a cover, the diameter of the core is most preferably greaterthan or equal to 1.41 inches in diameter.

More specifically, for a four piece golf ball (consisting of a core, aninner mantle, an outer mantle, and a cover wherein the inner mantle isencased by an outer mantle) the diameter of the core is most preferablygreater than or equal to 1.00 inches in diameter.

More specifically, for a five piece golf ball (consisting of an innercore, an outer core, an inner mantle, an outer mantle, and a coverwherein the inner core and inner mantle are encased by outer core andouter mantle, respectively) the diameter of the core is most preferablygreater than or equal to 1.00 inches in diameter.

More specifically, for a six piece golf ball (consisting of an innercore, an intermediate core, an outer core, an inner mantle, an outermantle, and a cover wherein the intermediate core and inner mantle areencased by outer core and outer mantle, respectively) the diameter ofthe core is most preferably greater than or equal to 1.00 inches indiameter.

More specifically, for a six piece golf ball (consisting of an innercore, an outer core, an inner mantle, an intermediate mantle, an outermantle, and a cover wherein the intermediate core and inner mantle areencased by outer core and outer mantle, respectively) the diameter ofthe core is most preferably greater than or equal to 1.00 inches indiameter.

The COR of the golf balls may be greater than about 0.700, preferablygreater than about 0.730, more preferably greater than 0.750, mostpreferably greater than 0.775, and especially greater than 0.800 at 125ft/sec inbound velocity.

The shear cut resistance of the golf balls of the present invention isless than about 4, preferably less than about 3, even more preferablyless than about 2.

These and other aspects of the present invention may be more fullyunderstood by reference to the following examples. While these examplesare meant to be illustrative of golf balls and golf ball components madeaccording to the present invention, the present invention is not meantto be limited by the following examples.

The various test properties which may be used to measure the propertiesof the golf balls of the present invention are described below includingany test methods as defined below.

Core or ball diameter may be determined by using standard linearcalipers or size gauge.

Compression may be measured by applying a spring-loaded force to thegolf ball center, golf ball core, or the golf ball to be examined, witha manual instrument (an “Atti gauge”) manufactured by the AttiEngineering Company of Union City, N.J. This machine, equipped with aFederal Dial Gauge, Model D81-C, employs a calibrated spring under aknown load. The sphere to be tested is forced a distance of 0.2 inch (5mm) against this spring. If the spring, in turn, compresses 0.2 inch,the compression is rated at 100; if the spring compresses 0.1 inch, thecompression value is rated as 0. Thus more compressible, softermaterials will have lower Atti gauge values than harder, lesscompressible materials. Compression measured with this instrument isalso referred to as PGA compression. The approximate relationship thatexists between Atti or PGA compression and Riehle compression can beexpressed as:

(Atti or PGA compression)=(160−Riehle Compression).

Thus, a Riehle compression of 100 would be the same as an Atticompression of 60.

COR may be measured using a golf ball or golf ball subassembly, aircannon, and a stationary steel plate. The steel plate provides an impactsurface weighing about 100 pounds or about 45 kilograms. A pair ofballistic light screens, which measure ball velocity, are spaced apartand located between the air cannon and the steel plate. The ball isfired from the air cannon toward the steel plate over a range of testvelocities from 50 ft/s to 180 ft/sec (for the tests used herein thevelocity was 125 ft/sec). As the ball travels toward the steel plate, itactivates each light screen so that the time at each light screen ismeasured. This provides an incoming time period proportional to theball's incoming velocity. The ball impacts the steel plate and reboundsthough the light screens, which again measure the time period requiredto transit between the light screens. This provides an outgoing transittime period proportional to the ball's outgoing velocity. Thecoefficient of restitution can be calculated by the ratio of theoutgoing transit time period to the incoming transit time period,COR=Tout/Tin.

A “Mooney” viscosity is a unit used to measure the plasticity of raw orunvulcanized rubber. The plasticity in a Mooney unit is equal to thetorque, measured on an arbitrary scale, on a disk in a vessel thatcontains rubber at a temperature of 100° C. and rotates at tworevolutions per minute. The measurement of Mooney viscosity is definedaccording to ASTM D-1646.

Shore D hardness may be measured in accordance with ASTM Test D2240.

Melt flow index (MFI, 12) may be measured in accordance with ASTMD-1238, Condition 230° C./2.16 kg.

Tensile Strength and Tensile Elongation were measured with ASTM D-638.

Flexural modulus and flexural strength were measured using ASTM standardD-790.

Shear cut resistance may be determined by examining the balls after theywere impacted by a pitching wedge at controlled speed, classifying eachnumerically from 1 (excellent) to 5 (poor), and averaging the resultsfor a given ball type. Three samples of each Example may be used forthis testing. Each ball is hit twice, to collect two impact data pointsper ball. Then, each ball is assigned two numerical scores—one for eachimpact—from 1 (no visible damage) to 5 (substantial material displaced).These scores may be then averaged for each Example to produce the shearresistance numbers. These numbers may be then directly compared with thecorresponding number for a commercially available ball, having a similarconstruction including the same core and mantle composition and coverthickness for comparison purposes.

Impact durability may be tested with an endurance test machine. Theendurance test machine is designed to impart repetitive deformation to agolf ball similar to a driver impact. The test machine consists of anarm and impact plate or club face that both rotate to a speed thatgenerates ball speeds of approximately 155-160 mph. Ball speed ismeasured with two light sensors located 15.5″ from impact location andare 11″ apart. The ball is stopped by a net and if a test sample is notcracked will continue to cycle through the machine for additionalimpacts. For golf balls, if zero failures occur through in excess of 100impacts per ball than minimal field failures will occur. For layersadjacent to the outer cover, fewer impacts are required since the covertypically “protects” the inner components of the golf ball.

Golf ball Sound Pressure Level, S, in decibels (dB) and Frequency inhertz (Hz) may be measured by dropping the ball from a height of 113 inonto a marble (“starnet crystal pink”) stage of at least 12″ square and4.25 inches in thickness. The sound of the resulting impact is capturedby a microphone positioned at a fixed proximity of 12 inches, and at anangle of 30 degrees from horizontal, from the impact position andresolved by software transformation into an intensity in db and afrequency in Hz. Data collection is done as follows:

Microphone data is collected using a laptop PC with a sound card. AnA-weighting filter is applied to the analog signal from the microphone.This signal is then digitally sampled at 44.1 KHz by the laptop dataacquisition system for further processing and analysis. Data Analysiswas done as follows:

The data analysis is split into two processes:

a. Time series analysis that generates the root mean square (rms) soundpressure level (SPL) for each ball impact sound.

-   -   i. An rms SPL from a reference calibration signal is generated        in the same manner as the ball data.    -   ii. The overall SPL (in decibels) is calculated from the        reference signal for each ball impact sound.    -   iii. The median SPL is recorded based on 3 impact tests.

b. Spectral analyses for each ball impact sound

-   -   i. Fourier and Autoregressive spectral estimation techniques are        employed to create power spectra.    -   ii. The frequencies (in cycles/sec-Hz) from highest level peaks        representing the most active sound producing vibration modes of        each ball are identified.

We claim:
 1. A golf ball comprising; I a core; II optionally one or moreintermediate layers; and III an outer cover layer, and wherein one ormore of said outer cover layer or one or more intermediate layerscomprises a high acid carboxylated elastomer composition, said high acidcarboxylated elastomer comprising an elastomer backbone and one or morecarboxy groups, wherein the high acid carboxylated elastomer is thereaction product of a carboxylated elastomer and an amine containingcompound.
 2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein; A said carboxylatedelastomer is selected from the group consisting of; a a copolymerselected from the group consisting of carboxylated polybutadiene,carboxylated styrene-butadiene copolymer, carboxylatedacrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer and mixtures thereof; b a graftedelastomer selected from the group consisting of maleated polybutadienes,maleated styrene butadiene rubbers (“SBR”), maleatedacrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene (“ABS”) rubbers, maleatednitrile-butadiene rubbers (“NBR”), maleated hydrogenated acrylonitrilebutadiene rubbers (“HNBR”), methylmethacrylate butadiene styrene (“MBS”)rubbers, carboxylated ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubbers,carboxylated styrene-acrynitrile rubbers (“SAN”), carboxylated ethylenepropylene diene rubbers (“EPDM”), acrylic grafted silicone rubbers, andcombinations thereof; and c any and all combinations of i and ii; and Bsaid outer cover layer further comprises one or more additional polymercomponents; and wherein said carboxylated elastomer composition has; i amelt flow index (MFI) of from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min.; ii amaterial hardness of from about 20 to about 90 Shore D; and iii a flexmodulus of from about 1 to about 120 kpsi.
 3. The golf ball of claim 1wherein; A said carboxylated elastomer comprises; a a carboxylatednitrile rubber which is a copolymer of butadiene, acrylonitrile and oneor more α,μ-unsaturated carboxylic acids having an elastomer backbonehaving the following formula

and which is substituted by one or more carboxy groups selected from thegroup consisting of those derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid,fumaric, acid, maleic acid and itaconic acid; or b. a graftedpolyisoprene selected from the group consisting of i apolyisoprene-graft-maleic anhydride having the following chemicalstructure:

ii a polyisoprene-graft-maleic anhydride monoester of maleic anhydridehaving the following chemical structure

and c all mixtures thereof; and wherein B said additional component ifpresent is selected from the group consisting of a unimodal acidicpolymer, a bimodal acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodalionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, apolyamide, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoset polyurethane, athermoplastic polyurea, a thermoset polyurea, and any and allcombinations thereof; and wherein said carboxylated elastomercomposition has; i a melt flow index (MFI) of from about 5 to about 50g/10 min.; ii a material hardness of from about 30 to about 80 Shore D;and iii a flex modulus of from about 3 to about 90 kpsi.
 4. The golfball of claim 1 wherein said carboxylated elastomer is crosslinked by acrosslinking composition selected from the group consisting of; a) oneor more basic metal salts selected from the group consisting of metalformates, metal acetates, metal nitrates, metal carbonates, metalhydrogen carbonates, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal alkoxides,metal stearates and mixtures thereof; b) a mixture comprising i) one ormore peroxides; ii) a zinc or magnesium salt of an unsaturated fattyacids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting ofacrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, stearic acid, fumaric acid,palmitic acid and mixtures thereof; and ii) a peptizer selected from thegroup consisting of an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt of anorganic sulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound,and any and all combinations thereof.
 5. The golf ball of claim 1wherein said core; a has a diameter of from about 0.5 to about 1.62inches; b has a PGA compression of less than about 100; and c comprisesa peptizer selected from the group consisting of an organic sulfurcompound, a metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, a non-metal saltof an organic sulfur compound, and any and all combinations thereof. 6.The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core; a has a diameter of fromabout 0.7 to about 1.60 in; b has a PGA compression of less than about90; and c further comprises one or more core layers each exhibiting adifferent hardness wherein the difference in hardness between each corelayer is greater than 5 units of Shore D.
 7. The golf ball of claim 5wherein the hardness of the core center and each sequential core layersincreases progressively outwards from the center to the outer corelayer.
 8. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein the hardness of the corecenter and each sequential core layers decreases progressively outwardsfrom the center to the outer core layer.
 9. The golf ball of claim 1wherein said cover composition comprises a polymer selected from thegroup consisting of a) a thermoset polyurethane; b) a thermoplasticpolyurethane; c) a thermoset polyurea; d) a thermoplastic polyurea; e) amulticomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) ablock copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one ormore basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greaterthan or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B);and f) any and all combinations thereof.